‘Welcome back, KING!’ – Twitter erupts in delight as Ajinkya Rahane makes his way into India’s WTC final squad

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday, April 25, announced the 15-member squad that will travel to England for the forthcoming World Test Championship (WTC) Final. Notably, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane has been included in the squad owing to his blazing form in the ongoing IPL 2023 and his red-ball form that he displayed in the recent Ranji Trophy season. 

For the uninitiated, Rahane has redefined his batting approach as displayed in the top-tier league for the CSK franchise. In his five outings thus far, the 34-year-old batter has carved out blazing knocks and amassed scores of 61, 31, 37, 9, 71*, with a run tally of 209 at a stunning strike rate of 199.05.

In his most recent outing against Kolkata Knight Riders, the Mumbai-born batter clobbered as many as five maximums and six fours to score an unconquered 71 off mere 29 balls at a strike rate of 244.82. With a massive change in his batting approach while coming in the middle-order, Rahane has taken the IPL by storm and is in contention for the IPL 2023 Orange Cap this season.

Not just the fans and members of the cricketing fraternity, but also the All-India Senior Selection Committee has taken heed of his impressive form and hence have drafted him into the India squad. 

Rahane last donned the whites for India in January 2022, during the third Test against South Africa, played at Newlands in Cape Town. Across both the innings, the batter could only manage to score nine and one, respectively. 

Rahane was confined to the sidelines owing to his poor form after the same but his recent batting exploits seemed to have worked the trick. Moreover, with Shreyas Iyer out due to a back injury, the BCCI has backed Rahane to feature in the squad for the ICC event.

Following the conclusion of the IPL 2023, team India will play fierce rivals, Australia, at The Oval in London in a one-off Test starting June 7 for the coveted mace. 

Twitter buzzes as Ajinkya Rahane makes a return to the Test squad:

चिरकुट ज़िंदगी@chill_babu

Hardwork pays off, never, never ever ever...Give UP. Congrats Jinx. Gheunnnn Taaakkkkk twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns…

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

Ajinkya Rahane included in the Indian team for the WTC final. Welcome back, Rahane.

11:07 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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`@rahulmsd_91

Ajinkya Rahane is back in the test squad. Welcome Back Rahane.

11:11 AM · Apr 25, 2023

66469

DIPTI MSDIAN@Diptiranjan_7

Ajinkya Rahane included in the WTC Final squad!! We'll Deserved King. 👑

11:07 AM · Apr 25, 2023

86578

Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳@sri_ashutosh08

Ajinkya Rahane included in the Indian team for WTC Final 2023. Welcome back Rahane 🤞💪 #AjinkyaRahane #wtcfinal #WTC2023

11:32 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Aufridi Chumtya@ShuhidAufridi

Ajinkya Rahane What A Comeback. Totally Happy For Jinx 💛💫. Hard Work Pays Off

11:10 AM · Apr 25, 2023

10811

CricketMAN2@ImTanujSingh

So happy to see Ajinkya Rahane included in India's squad for the WTC final in 2023. Welcome back, Ajinkya Rahane!

11:13 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Ankit Singh Rajput@nameisASR

Ajinkya Rahane included in the Indian team for the WTC final. Welcome back, Rahane. #wtcfinal

11:41 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳@sri_ashutosh08

BCCI included Ajinkya Rahane for WTC Final 2023. Welcome back Rahane🤞 #WTC23 #wtcfinal #AjinkyaRahane

11:16 AM · Apr 25, 2023

989

Chhotu@badachhotu

King Ajinkya Rahane 👑

11:23 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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EngiNerd.@mainbhiengineer

At 34, an out of form Ajinkya Rahane went to play domestic cricket to get back in form and play T20 innings like a 24yr old. BCCI should use this as example for out of form players in team India, be it Kohli, KL Rahul or Sharma.

10:13 PM · Apr 23, 2023

1.1K106

Bunty 🇮🇳🚩@Bunty2134

Ajinkya Rahane, one of the greatest batsmen of all time, is back ❤️❤️ Kinggg @ajinkyarahane88 Haters really thought he was finished 🤣🤣🤣

11:28 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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Kartik Sehgal@master_vlsi

Hard-work always payoff. Ajinkya Rahane is back in Indian Test Team for WTC Final. Huge credits to MS Dhoni & CSK for giving a revival to his career. twitter.com/dhoniesque_/st…

Arnav.@Dhoniesque_

• Dropped from the Test team due to poor form • Released from KKR • Going through his worst phase • MSD shows trust in him & picks him at 50L • Trusts him and backs him at no. 3, he does wonders • Now gets picked in Team India for WTC Final Comeback of the AGES , Ajju. 👏

11:48 AM · Apr 25, 2023

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