ICC World Cup 2019: Ajinkya Rahane hopeful of making it into the Indian squad

As the ICC World Cup 2019 nears commencement, every team is hurrying in order to give a final touch to their squads and ironing out chinks in their armours. The World Cup is under 100 days away and one of the favourites of the title, Team India is also trying to find the best combination for the mega ICC event.

Currently, the Indian team is engaged in the five-match ODI series against Australia and has won the first match. The Indian team management is still looking out for options in some of the places in the playing XI. Some of the places for which there might be opening are the backup opener and no.4 spot in the playing eleven.

One hopeful of making it to the Indian World Cup squad is India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane played in the ICC World Cup 2015 for India at the no.4 spot and was amongst the runs without being flashy. However, Rahane has not been in the scheme of things when it comes to limited-overs cricket.

Still hopeful of making it to World Cup 2019

Though Rahane’s last ODI came against South Africa in Centurion in 2018 and he has not been part of T20I scene since 2016, the talented batsman has not given up hopes of making it to the eventual 15-man Indian team to the 2019 edition of ICC World Cup in England and Wales.

Ajinkya Rahane will be leading the Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming IPL 2019 and is hoping to use it to claim a berth in the Indian team for the World Cup. “Yes, I am really hopeful and I’m looking forward to doing well in the IPL. IPL is the biggest platform and I’m sure I will do well in the IPL and get back into the ODI side,” Rahane was quoted as saying in the Quint.

Rahane was part of India’s historic Test series win in Australia, but his luck has not been bright in the 50-overs format. Rahane though picked the hosts to give India the toughest fight for their third ICC World Cup trophy. “See we all believe every team in the World Cup is really strong but I guess playing in England, England will be really strong. West Indies and New Zealand too,” he said.

Impressed with newly designed Indian jersey

Ajinkya Rahane was one of the Indian players who were present at the launch of the newly designed Team India kit that was launched on the eve of the first ODI against Australia in Hyderabad. The new kit is designed by Nike, the official kit maker of the Indian team and along with Rahane, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Prithvi Shaw, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues were also present at the launch.

“It feels good. It’s really comfortable. For me, the best part is the three stars for each of our World Cup wins – 1983, 2007 and 2011. That’s the best part about this jersey and the fit is really comfortable. As a player, I feel it should be really flexible and it has all the qualities,” said Rahane about the new kit.

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