Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his confusion over the decision of the Board of Control of Cricket (BCCI) to appoint Ajinkya Rahane as the vice-captain of Team India in the World Test Championship (WTC) squad, considering his absence from the team for 18 months. Rahane’s selection came as a surprise to many, especially since he hadn’t been part of the team for a while. However, Ganguly did acknowledge Rahane’s impressive performance in the WTC, with scores of 89 and 46 in the first and second innings respectively.
The decision to include Ajinkya Rahane in the WTC squad may have taken into account his improved performance in the IPL 2023 and his experience playing Test matches in England. However, Ganguly admitted that he still doesn’t understand the thought process behind the selection. He questioned why someone who had been away from Test cricket for 18 months would come back and become the vice-captain straightaway. Ganguly believed that there should be continuity and consistency in selection, as opposed to “hot and cold” selections.
Don’t make hot and cold selections: Sourav Ganguly
Ganguly emphasized the importance of maintaining a consistent selection process and not making drastic decisions based on short-term performances. Despite his reservations about the decision, Ganguly commended Rahane’s performance in the WTC Finals, stating that he fought hard and made a significant contribution to the team. Ganguly also acknowledged the challenge of making a comeback in Indian cricket after such a long period of absence, highlighting Rahane’s resilience and determination.
“How good it is, after 18 months. He was away for 18 months from Test cricket, Many of them had written him off and probably he himself. It is not easy in Indian cricket as a batter to come back and make a statement. I think it is tremendous. There have been many comebacks in the past but not after such a long period,” the former BCCI President added.