'Now he has got the opportunity, I feel his mind will...' - Sanjay Manjrekar hails Ajinkya Rahane ahead of WTC 2023 final against Australia

The veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane is set to make his Test comeback for India after quite a bit of a long time. He will be in action with Team India in the upcoming highly anticipated World Test Championship 2023 final against Australia. Both teams will be crossing their swords in this big clash at The Oval in London on the 7^th of June, Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the former Indian batter and currently the commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar has come up with a statement for Ajinkya Rahane. Manjrekar reckoned that Rahane will not be under much pressure while playing this time against Australia in comparison to the last time he appeared for India at the highest level of red-ball cricket.

Rahane is out of action from Test cricket since last year, but his brilliant and stellar performances in the domestic circuit of India helped him to make a comeback in the Test squad. Apart from that, the senior batter also showed some outstanding class in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League 2023 while playing for the Chennai Super Kings, who eventually went on to clinch the title for the fifth time in the history of the IPL.

Here's what Sanjay Manjrekar said about Ajinkya Rahane

"He was under tremendous pressure the last time when he was playing for India. It's tough for the batter when going out to bat if he thinks that this could be the last innings of his Test career. But I don't think he will be in that place now as he has seen life after Test cricket, almost like a retired cricketer. Now he has got the opportunity, I feel his mind will be a lot more free,” said Manjrekar to Star Sports.

"People might think his IPL form would have contributed to his comeback. But he had a good first-class season as well. He will have a freer mind, but he will have his work cut out as well Test cricket is a different ball game and he is playing against a top-notch opposition. I have no idea how he will bat as although he seems to be in form, it is a completely different scenario,” he added later.