'Pehli baar dimaag se socha hai inhone' - Fans react to Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid always being keen on taking Ajinkya Rahane for Test Championship final

Ajinkya Rahane, who is currently experiencing an unusual run of success in the Indian Premier League, was unceremoniously removed from the Indian team following the team's tour of South Africa more than 15 months ago. He has now earned his comeback and will play against Australia in the Test Championship final on June 7 at The Oval. 

On Monday, the four national team selectors met with skipper Rohit Sharma for a last round of deliberations under the direction of caretaker chairman Shiv Sundar Das. Kuldeep and Suryakumar Yadav were cut from the team that last competed against Australia in March 2023. Rahane was recently dropped off the Indian Cricket Board's central contract list for the upcoming season, indicating that they no longer included him in their long-term plans.

Who were the other options apart from Ajinkya Rahane?

As per reports, despite his recent success in the IPL, the team management as well as selectors had been considering his name because of his experience and the dearth of middle-order options. Once it was apparent that Shreyas Iyer, who is now in the UK for back surgery, wouldn't be available, discussions started shortly after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Examining the Rahane option was also influenced by KL Rahul's questionable performance against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Additionally, the selectors were reluctant to use an unfamiliar individual in the WTC final. Suryakumar did not do well in the single Test contest versus Australia and lacked sufficient English playing expertise. Rajat Patidar, who was also considered, is out due to a heel ailment. It was discovered that Rahane, who has participated in 82 Test matches, was highly desired by head coach Rahul Dravid along with Rohit due to his abundance of expertise. Ironically, this was exactly the same team management that had excluded Rahane as well as Cheteshwar Pujara from the Test team in an effort to bring in younger players.

Fans react to Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid always being keen on taking Ajinkya Rahane for Test Championship final: -

Rohit & Dravid were very keen to have Rahane in the WTC final for his experience - both management & selectors were in talks with his name as injury for few players & lack of options.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 26, 2023

It's not lack of options, they didn't give proper opportunity to players once they dropped Rahane.
If they have tried someone like Sarfraz or Gill in middle order instead of going with T20 specialist, now they wouldn't be in position to go backwards with Rahane

— Guru (@okguru_) April 26, 2023

Remind me of one dialogue -

Rahane ko try karte haii!#WTCFinal #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/aUzxqOzK2q

— Nilesh G (@oye_nilesh) April 26, 2023

Csk blood carrying bcci

— Dhoni zone (@oddone7777777) April 26, 2023

just like dk in wc 2022...we need young player

— joeroot & josbuttler (@amitiitwala) April 26, 2023

Why can’t they give chances to Axar or Sundar.

— Rahul Singh (@RahulSinggghhh) April 26, 2023

rohit aur dravid har chiz mai excited hi rehtey hai 🤣🤣🤣

— Diwakar singh (@Diwakar75473504) April 26, 2023

It's obvious that Rahane will play WTC. With no Iyer and pant, there is no other option

— DhoniFanRoshan 🦁 (@ItsRoshan124) April 26, 2023