Ajinkya Rahane pulls out of county cricket deal following poor show in WI tests

India test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will skip the upcoming county season in England.

Indian middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane has opted out of the county season with Leicestershire to take a break from the game. Ajinkya Rahane was set to join the Leicestershire Foxes for the upcoming Metro Bank One-day cup tournament but he will now be replaced by Australian wicket-keeper Peter Handscomb. Handscomb is part of the Leicestershire squad and has contributed immensely to the team's first-class campaign. 

Ajinkya Rahane made his comeback in the Indian team after a magnificent IPL 2023. Soon after during the break after the World Test Championship Final at The Oval, Rahane was offered a county contract by Leicestershire. Rahane after a 2-game red-ball series against West Indies has once again decided to take a break and opted out of the Leicestershire contract. He wants to spend time with his friends and family before Mumbai’s domestic season begins. 

Leicestershire accepts Rahane's case

Leicestershire director Claude Henderson said, “Firstly, we are fully understanding of Ajinkya’s situation. He has experienced a hectic schedule in recent months, both in India and travelling with the national team, and we accept his wishes to recover and spend some time with his family. He is extremely grateful for our understanding and still hopes to play for Leicestershire one day. Fortunately, we had planned for a situation like this and Peter is staying with the team”. 

Peter Handscomb is part of the Leicestershire squad and has scored 809 runs this season for the team. Handscomb has been their prolific run-getter in first-class cricket as he scored 681 of them in first-class games. The Metro Bank One Day Cup tournament is scheduled to begin on the 1st of August. Leicestershire are placed in Group A and will begin their campaign against Surrey on 3rd August at The Oval.