WTC Final 2023: Ajinkya Rahane scripts Team India comeback, hopes to ‘carry IPL, Ranji form to Tests'

Ajinkya Rahane made a comeback to Team India after nearly 19 months and all he wants is to carry his form from the IPL and the domestic season to Test cricket.

Speaking to BCCI.TV, the 34-year-old said, 'I want to bat with the same mindset and show the same intent that I showed before coming here in IPL and Ranji Trophy. I would not like to think about format whether it is T20 or Tests.'

Rahane had a splendid run as a batter with IPL winners Chennai Super Kings in 2023, scoring some match-winning runs for the franchise.

'I had a very good domestic season and I felt good. So this comeback was a bit emotional for me,' he said. The former No. 5 batter for India had a commendable outing in Ranji Trophy, where he scored 2 hundreds and averaged almost 58.

Rahane had been dropped from the Indian Test side in 2022 following a lean patch and a return to the whites seemed impossible but he came through. 'It was (an) emotional moment for me. When I got dropped, the support I got from my family was massive and dream was to play for India and that was massive. Playing for India matters a lot for me and I worked hard on my fitness and went back to domestic cricket,' the former Test captain said.

'What made my comeback possible was enjoying each and every moment, be it success or failure, and having no regrets. Learning from every individual in Mumbai Ranji team. You have to grow as a cricketer every single day, learning process shouldnt stop,' he said.

Playing in England is challenging, feels Rahane, who had scored a match-winning hundred in a Test match at Lord's back in 2014.

India take on Australia in the World Test Championship Final starting June 7 at The Oval.