![\"Ajinkya](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761534009_920_1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg\" "\\"Ajinkya"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nLast Updated:October 26, 2025, 20:51 IST<\/p>\n
Ajinkya Rahane, after scoring 159 in Ranji Trophy, stresses experience over age and calls for merit-based selection, despite being sidelined by Ajit Agarkar-led selectors.<\/p>\n
Ajinkya Rahane has expressed his desire to play Tests again (Picture credit: AP)<\/p>\n
Ajinkya Rahane has not been part of India\u2019s plans for over two years, but the veteran batter\u2019s spirit remains unwavering.<\/p>\n
The 37-year-old showcased his temperament with a gritty 159 in the Ranji Trophy against Chhattisgarh. His celebration was just a quiet raise of the bat, a thumbs-up to the dressing room.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething clicked for me. I know how good a player I am, so I don\u2019t like to focus on what\u2019s going on outside. There are many unwanted people who don\u2019t know about the game, but they still talk about a player who has been playing consistently with a good attitude and good intensity,” Rahane was quoted as saying to Sportstar.<\/p>\n
Even after stepping down as Mumbai captain, Rahane remains a guiding force for the younger players.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want Mumbai\u2019s players to go and play at the highest level. But some people (still) talk about that. They don\u2019t know the game; they don\u2019t know what it takes for an international cricketer who has played for so many years. I don\u2019t want to name anyone, but I feel my family\u2019s support has been massive. My kids tell me, \u2018Daddy, you can do it\u2026\u2019 and when they support you, nothing else matters.”<\/p>\n
Last Time Rahane Played Test For India?<\/p>\n
The 2023 Test Tour of West Indies marked Rahane\u2019s last appearance for India in the longest format. Since then, the selectors have moved on from him. Despite his steady domestic form, Rahane says he received no clarity from the selectors.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter playing so much cricket, when experienced players like me were dropped, I got a sense that there\u2019s something different. I feel an experienced player like me should get more chances when he makes a comeback. But there was no communication”<\/p>\n
Still, his motivation endures. \u201cBut I still enjoy my game. I can focus on the controllable, which I\u2019m doing right now. Whether they select me or not, that\u2019s their call, but I personally feel that the Indian team needed me in Australia, and I was fully ready for it.”<\/p>\n
With India\u2019s selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, favouring younger options, Rahane maintains that selection should be based on merit, not age. \u201cAge is just a number. If a player has the experience and is still playing domestic cricket and giving his best, the selectors should consider him. It\u2019s not about the age. It\u2019s about the intent. It\u2019s about the passion for red-ball cricket and the hard work that you put in the middle. That\u2019s what matters,” he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Australia, you see, Michael Hussey made his debut in his late 30s. He still scored runs. So, experience matters in red-ball cricket. And I thought, personally, the Indian team needed me in Australia. Selectors talk about playing domestic cricket. I\u2019ve been playing domestic cricket for the last four to five seasons. Sometimes, it\u2019s not about the runs. It\u2019s about the intent. It\u2019s about the experience (you get) when you play in Australia, England, or South Africa\u2026 so, I don\u2019t buy that age factor,” he added.<\/p>\n
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More<\/p>\n Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More<\/p>\n First Published:<\/p>\n October 26, 2025, 20:05 IST<\/p>\n News<\/a> cricket<\/a> Ajinkya Rahane Puts Selectors On Notice: ‘Indian Team Needed Me In Australia…’Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last Updated:October 26, 2025, 20:51 IST Ajinkya Rahane, after scoring 159 in Ranji Trophy, stresses experience over age…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":227464,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[29282,1721,45401,9981,94416,96858,48672,61114,101,56,54,55,77306],"class_list":{"0":"post-227463","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cricket","8":"tag-ajinkya-rahane","9":"tag-cricket","10":"tag-domestic-cricket","11":"tag-india-cricket-team","12":"tag-indian-selectors","13":"tag-mumbai-cricket","14":"tag-ranji-trophy","15":"tag-red-ball-cricket","16":"tag-sports","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom","19":"tag-unitedkingdom","20":"tag-world-test-championship"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Ritayan Basu<\/a><\/p>\n