Twitter goes berserk as Ajinkya Rahane returns to India's squad for ICC WTC final vs Australia

Cricketing fraternity on social media reacts to Ajinkya Rahane's selection in India's squad for the ICC WTC Final.

Experienced Indian middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane has made a shocking return to the Test team for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia after a string of sensational IPL performances. As a result, the 34-year-old has sent social media channels and users into a frenzy.

The right-handed batter hasn't played a Test since January 2022 and the selectors dropped him after the South Africa tour when he managed only 136 runs in three matches with a solitary half-century. Since then, Shreyas Iyer had cemented himself as India's number five in the Test side, pushing Rahane further back in the pecking order.

However, some very consistent and brisk IPL outings for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have worked in the veteran batter's favour. He started the season with a 29-ball 61 against the Mumbai Indians and after the Kolkata Knight Riders' game, the tally surged to 209 runs in five games at 52.25 alongside a strike rate of 209. Hence, many experts and fans immediately called for him to be included for the marquee fixture at The Oval.

With Iyer out of the squad with injury, it is the perfect opportunity for Rahane to deliver a significant performance in the final and hold on to his place for a long time. The Maharashtra-born batter is a veteran of 82 Tests and has a massive experience of playing in England, having scored a hundred and five fifties. He is also a fantastic slip fielder and will be of notable assistance to Rohit Sharma, who is still finding his feet as Test captain.

Here's how Twitter reacted to Ajinkya Rahane's return to the Test squad for the WTC final: