Despite being out of the Indian Test team, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane is not ready to give up just yet. In a candid chat with Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton on Sky Sports in London, the 36-year-old reaffirmed his passion for red-ball cricket and his desire to don the India whites again.
“I still want to play Test cricket. I’m really passionate about it. I’m enjoying my game right now,” Rahane said.
“Even though I’m here just for a few days, I carried my training gear to stay fit. Our domestic season is starting soon, and my preparations have already begun.”
Competition & Comeback
With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having retired from Test cricket, the Indian team has entered a transition phase. Shubman Gill has taken over the crucial No. 4 spot, while Rishabh Pant slots in at No. 5. Among the senior players, only KL Rahul appears to be firmly in the selectors’ future plans.
When asked about his path back to the national setup, Rahane said he’s focusing on what he can control.
“I’ve tried to reach out to the selectors, but I didn’t get a response. That’s something I can’t control. What I can do is continue playing, keep enjoying the game, and give my best every single time.”
Domestic Form Still Strong
Since being dropped from the Test side, Rahane has led Mumbai to two consecutive Ranji Trophy finals, winning the 2023–24 edition and finishing runners-up in 2024–25. He was also part of Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) title-winning squad.
In the 2024–25 Ranji season, Rahane scored 467 runs in 14 innings at an average of 35.92, with a century and a half-century to his name. In IPL 2025, he emerged as Kolkata Knight Riders’ top run-scorer, amassing 390 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 147.27, even as the team finished eighth out of ten.
“I love playing red-ball cricket. It’s a passion. The love for the game is what keeps me going,” Rahane concluded.
