My PR is my cricket: Ajinkya Rahane targets return to Indian Test team-OxBig News Network

Ajinkya Rahane is targeting a return to the Indian Test team and claimed that he wants his bat to do the talking for him. Rahane last played for India during the tour of the West Indies in 2023 after playing in the World Test Championship final that year against Australia. Despite a good performance against the Aussies, the Mumbai batter was snubbed from the Test team as India decided to bank on younger stars.

Rahane returned to the domestic circuit and has been in fine form since then. In the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, the 36-year-old scored 437 runs in 12 innings, including a hundred in the quarterfinal against Haryana. This follows a spectacular Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, where he was the highest run-getter with 469 runs in nine matches at an average of 58.62 and a strike rate of 164.56. Speaking to Indian Express, Rahane said that people has advised he to speak up and be in the news.

“I was always shy, now I have opened up. My focus has been to play cricket and go home. Nobody told me that going ahead, certain things will be needed. Today also, sometimes I feel ki bas cricket khelo, ghar jao. Now I am told I need to speak up, talk about my hard work. People say you need to be in the news … I don’t have a PR team, my only PR is my cricket. I have now realised that staying in the news is important. Otherwise, people think that I’m out of the circle,” said Rahane.

The Mumbai batter said that Test cricket is his motivation at the moment for making a return to the Indian team.

“Test cricket. There is still fire and passion in me. I’m playing Ranji Trophy at the moment, trying to give my all to the Mumbai team. The goal is clear to make another comeback. When I was dropped a few years ago, I made runs and was picked for the World Test Championship final and then was dropped again. But what is in my control? To play,” said Rahane.

‘Was tough to watch Border-Gavaskar Trophy sitting at home’

Rahane was one of the stars for India during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia as he also captained the side after the 1st Test following Virat Kohli’s absence. This time around, he was forced to watch the action from the sidelines, something the Mumbai batter found tough.

Rahane said that he still feels he can serve the Indian team going forward.

“Yes (it was tough to watch BGT sitting at home). Previously, I was dropped despite doing well. So, somewhere I feel I can still serve the Indian team. Cricket is still left in me,” said Rahane.

Rahane is captaining the Mumbai team in their semi-final against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy on Monday, February 17.