(Cricket news) Ajinkya Rahane has made a comeback into the Indian Test team for the World Test Championship final. In the last WTC final Rahane was India’s vice captain but after that his form dipped quite a bit and he was subsequently dropped from the team. Now that Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant are injured, Rahane has found a way into the team.

The decision is something which was definitely on the cards when Iyer’s absence was confirmed. In the ongoing IPL season Rahane has been performing really well with the Chennai Super Kings. He is timing the ball superbly and is playing some really good shots. 

Selecting players for red ball on the basis of IPL form is something which the BCCI had been criticized for doing. However this situation is different as Rahane has had a good domestic red ball season as well. India didn’t have too many options as Suryakumar Yadav who was Iyer’s replacement in the Border-Gavaskar hasn’t played a lot of red recently.

Hanuma Vihari isn’t in good form while Sarfaraz Khan hasn’t really played in English conditions. Selecting Sarfaraz or Suryakumar would’ve been a massive risk especially in a final. Ajinkya Rahane is a very experienced campaigner who has played well in England a number of times. It looks to be a one off selection where the selectors and the captain have gone with the safe option.

Now that Ajinkya Rahane has been selected, he is likely to bat at number 5 which he has done so many times. Rahane has a decent record against Australia which is always a plus point.  India’s middle order trio of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane will be back in action. The trio have won so many games for India but that was a long time ago. The signs are good for India as Kohli and Rahane are having good IPL campaigns while Pujara is also playing well for Sussex in county cricket where he is getting used to the conditions.

Also read: Ajinkya Rahane’s selection for the Indian team for the WTC Final is praised by Star Sports analysts