WTC Final 2023: Ajinkya Rahane gets Ravi Shastri's approval for WTC Final, slams critics, says 'He was not selected because of IPL, look at runs in last 6 months'

WTC Final 2023: Former Indian captain and coach Ravi Shastri has slammed critics and said that the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane into India’s squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia is a the right one and not based upon the his performance in IPL 2023. Follow India vs Australia World Test Championship Final LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Shastri said,”People think he’s just played three IPL games and that’s why he’s in the side.” Shastri who was India’s head coach from 2017 to 2021, thinks that Rahane’s selection is not based on his recent performance for CSK in Indian Premier League 2023 but due to his form in first-class cricket. Shastri further said, “I’m so glad he’s made it to the side”.

Best Indian team selected. Well done selectors and team management 🇮🇳 #WTCFinal2023 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/olIK46GO96

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) April 25, 2023

WTC Final 2023: MS Dhoni SECRET of Ajinkya Rahane’s Test recall? Read INSIDE STORY of how a phone call with CSK captain helped Rahane earn WTC berth, Check OUT

Shastri on Rahane’s selection

“People think he’s just played three IPL games and that’s why he’s in the side. They must have been on holiday for six months when he was playing first-class cricket. They must’ve been somewhere in the jungle where there’s no contact with anyone in the world. When you go six months into a holiday, you miss those 600 runs,” he said.

In the Ranji Trophy 2022-23, Rahane has scored 634 runs in 11 innings at an average of 57.64. he had also clinched two centuries in that season.

The former coach also believed that in WTC, the Indian team needed experience players considering his records in Australia. Rahane has scored 1090 runs against Australia with an average of 37.58 in 17 matches. He had led the side in the absence of Virat Kohli in the Australia Tour for two matches and won.

“Absolutely, it’s a one-off big game, like the Super Bowl, and you need your experienced player,” Shastri said of Rahane’s inclusion.

“Don’t forget just two-and-a-half years ago, the man won a Test series in Australia. He was the captain when Virat [Kohli] went [on paternity leave] and did a sterling job,” he added.

WTC Final 2023: Rahane and Pujara’s importance

Shastri compared Rahane with Pujara who had done his come back into the team after scoring runs in county cricket for Sussex. He had scored eight centuries and three double hundreds last year.

“People forget that hundred at the MCG, the way he played, and the fact that he’s gone back to the grind. You saw what it did with Pujara, he went back to the grind playing domestic cricket, playing county cricket, just got the number of runs under his belt, then came back into Test cricket and performed. It’s the same thing with Rahane, let’s hope that experience comes handy,” he further added.

Cricket