JINX Rahane a smash hit in Ranji Trophy

Ajinkya Rahane, the names evokes wonderful memories for cricket fans. He has been one of India’s most durable cricketers and yet not got his due. The number of times he was stand-in captain during the Virat Kohli leadership regime is no joke. Rewind to the most famous BGT Series win before this disastrous trip in 2024/25, Rahane and coach Ravi Shastri had jammed up so well. India won the series four years ago (2020/21).

What happened suddenly that the BCCI selectors dumped Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara from the Test squad defies logic. So much emphasis has been on young blood that using age against Rahane has been a massive mistake. After all, Sarafraz Khan and many more have just vanished. On Tuesday, the soft-spoken Rahane cracked a ton to pilot Mumbai into the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. This knock was again well-timed and comes at a time when there has been so much chatter on how the Indian team will be preparing for the Test series in England later this year.

For those statistically minded, Rahane has been in rip-roaring form throughout the season, across formats. Be it the Ranji Trophy or the white-ball domestic formats before this in the 2024-25 season, Rahane had underlined one word: Consistency. The ability to adapt, adjust and be a team man puts him right on top. Sample this, he and Shreyas Iyer, who now has cemented his position at No.4 in the ODI team have been stellar performers for Mumbai. Shreyas got that big chance in the first ODI against England and went big. He scored in the second ODI as well.

The same luck has not smiled on Rahane, all because he is considered old. It’s a joke, really. You look at some of the leading lights like Lewis Hamilton, LeBron James and a few more, they are all at 40. Hamilton begins a new Formula One season with Ferrari, the most emotional team in the history of the sport. LeBron needs no detailing he is a legend in every sense if you follow even a bit of NBA. Likewise, Rahane continues to ply his trade in domestic cricket, still way below 40.

Given the failed experiments which India undertook in the middle order in 2024 in the Test team, Rahane deserves a chance. He is an inspirational man and at the same time so simple. If simplicity is misconstrued as nicety, be kind to Ajinkya Rahane. There is chatter over who will be the next Kolkata Knight Riders captain in the IPL 2025 season. Rahane would be an obvious chance as leader, since he scored well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament as well in the recent season.

Rahane will not mind it even of he gets overlooked by KKR as captain. Truth be told, in the IPL, age has never been a factor, a prime example being Chris Gayle. And the way Rohit Sharma has bounced back with a massive ton in the second ODI, nobody is talking about his age, going to be 38 this year. He is in supreme form and there are no doubts he can score and lead. So, why does Rahane, also on the wrong side of his 30s get labelled as someone over the hill. Sport is replete with instances where players have pushed hard.

Novak Djokovic is 37 and still produces breathtaking shots in his tennis career. It was bad luck he was done in by a hamstring tear at the Australian Open. Nevertheless, he is looking to bounce back after he recovers and be ready for the next two Grand Slams at least this season. Then again, the injury which Novak sustained was not due to age, it just happened.

In contrast, Rahane has been super fit. He does not need to show biceps or six-pack abs. What he has to showcase is batting prowess, which he did again with a timely ton on Tuesday. Some athletes continue to perform, not bothering one bit about what they missed out on. That is a sign of greatness in modern sports. Cricket is blessed, Ajinkya Rahane is still there as a class act.