Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh backed the selector’s decision to recall veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia while Rahane, who has participated in 82 Test matches, last played for India in the longest format of the game in January last year.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh backed the selector’s decision to recall veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Rahane, who has participated in 82 Test matches, last played for India in the longest format of the game in January last year.
Due to his bad performance since then, he has not been considered for selection. But his performance in the domestic circuit and the current IPL 2023 has led to his recall to the Test team.
Harbhajan suggested that the management had no choice but to use Rahane in the absence of Shreyas Iyer, who is out of action due to a back injury.
“Ajinkya Rahane has been playing for India for a long time now and he has also captained the team. He is a very capable player with a great technique. I feel the decision has been taken keeping in mind his present form and hence has been recalled because Shreyas Iyer is still not part of the team. And with Iyer absent, it serves as an opportunity for Rahane and it’s a big match. He is a big player as well and I hope he gives a big performance to justify the selection. I support this selection 100 percent and I feel it is a great decision. There was no other solution other than this,”
Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
However, Harbhajan believed that Suryakumar Yadav should have been part of the team and said that the selectors should have chosen an extra batter rather than three spinners.
“The one person who has missed this tour is Suryakumar Yadav. He should have been part of the team. Maybe instead of carrying three spinners, they could have carried an extra batter. Because you need that one batsman in the middle order who can destroy the opposition and only Suryakumar could have done that. He first got him into the Test team because he was in great form. Yes, he has had a rough patch of 4-5 matches but if IPL is the criteria for selection for other players then even he should have been picked, even he has found that rhythm”
he added.
Harbhajan supported his claim by suggesting that Suryakumar’s attacking style of cricket will provide an X-factor.
“When Gilchrist used to come in the middle for Australia, at No.6-7, he would destroy the bowlers. So you need a batter in the line-up who can play baseball and cricket like Rishabh Pant. India will miss Suryakumar during this tour,”
Harbhajan signed off.