“Experienced player like me should get more chances”- Ajinkya Rahane launches attack at Indian selectors after his 159 in Ranji Trophy 2025-26

Ajinkya Rahane last played for India in the test series against the West Indies in 2023.

Discarded Indian Cricket Team batter Ajinkya Rahane has lashed out at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors. He made a bold statement, saying that experienced players like him deserve to get more chances when they make a comeback to the national side. 

Ajinkya Rahane’s comments came after he played a magical innings of 159 runs off 303 balls in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 game between Mumbai and Chhattisgarh. The right-hander no doubt has been amongst the biggest match-winners for India in tests. 

Ajinkya Rahane along with Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara formed the strong Indian batting lineup in tests between 2013 to 2023. They won many games for the side, especially in the overseas conditions, making the team dominant in the longest format of the game. 

Ajinkya Rahane was a consistent member for India in the tests, scoring truckloads of runs. However, he was dropped from the team after the South Africa series in 2021. He then made a comeback in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final against Australia in 2023, but again was dropped after the series against the West Indies. 

I feel an experienced player like me should get more chances when he makes a comeback – Ajinkya Rahane

After his heroics in Ranji Trophy 2025-26, he said that when players are giving their best, selectors should consider the, as it should be about intent and passion for the red ball and not age. He added that he deserved more chances and that there wasn’t any proper communication with him. As quoted by Cricbuzz, he said:  

“Age is just a number,” he noted, trying to make a point. “As a player, if you have the experience, if you are still playing domestic cricket, if you are still giving your best, I think selectors should consider you. It’s not about the age. It’s about the intent. It’s about the passion for the red ball.

“After playing so much cricket, when experienced players like me were dropped, I got a sense that there’s something different. I feel an experienced player like me should get more chances when he makes a comeback. But there was no communication,” Rahane said on Sunday, following the second day’s play.

I personally feel that the Indian team needed me in Australia – Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane added that he still enjoys his game but made a massive revelation, saying that he was expecting to play in the test series in Australia as he was fully ready. He added: 

“But I still enjoy my game. I can focus on the controllable, which I’m doing right now. Whether they select me or not, that’s their call, but I personally feel that the Indian team needed me in Australia, and I was fully ready for it.”

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, Ajinkya Rahane was the main man behind India winning the series. When Virat Kohli left the team due to paternity leave, he took charge of the side and guided the side to a series win by a margin of 2-1. 

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