Media365
NEW DELHI: Minutes after scoring 159 for Mumbai against Chhattisgarh in a Ranji Trophy match at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in BKC on Sunday, Ajinkya Rahane opened up about selection, age, and the value of experience, saying he “was fully ready” for India’s 2024-25 tour of Australia but “there was no communication.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I thought an experienced player like me should get more chances. And there was no communication,” Rahane told reporters after his 42nd first-class hundred. “I can focus only on the controllable things, which I am doing right now. But as I said, the Indian team needed me in Australia and I was fully ready for it.”
The veteran, who led India to a famous Test series win in Australia in 2021, stressed that age should never define a player’s worth. “It is not about age, it is about the passion for red-ball cricket,” he said. “Experience matters in red-ball cricket.” He cited the example of Mike Hussey, the Australian batter who debuted late but delivered consistently, to highlight the need for balance between “young blood and know-how.”“You cannot go with all newcomers,” Rahane said, pointing to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli‘s recent ODI heroics in Australia as proof that seasoned players still deliver in big moments. “I was really happy to see Rohit get a hundred,” he added with a smile.Rahane ended the interaction by offering advice to Sarfaraz Khan — a young talent often in similar conversations. “He should not get distracted,” Rahane said. “Just keep scoring runs, keep your head down, and control the controllables.”
