IPL 2023: S Sreesanth Backs Ajinkya Rahane to Return in ODI Squad Before World Cup

Former India pacer S Sreesanth shared that veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane should be recalled to the ODI squad before the 50-over World Cup, which will be played in India later this year as well. According to Sreesanth, Rahane could be a good fit in the middle order. However, Rahane last played white-ball cricket for India in 2018 during their tour of South Africa. His last T20I match came way back in 2016.

The right-handed batter, however, has been in great form for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 as well. However, Ajinkya Rahane was recently recalled to the Indian Test squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Notably, he was dropped from the team last year following a prolonged lean spell. In seven matches for CSK in IPL 2023, the veteran has scored 224 runs which came at an average of 44.80 and a strike rate of 189.83.

Speaking to Star Sports, Sreesanth said of Ajinkya Rahane: “I would love to see him in the [ODI] squad. The way he is performing, especially with the World Cup happening in India. That will be one of the boldest moves the selectors can make. I am very confident he will do well in the World Test Championship final. But he shouldn’t look at by that performance. He should be given the opportunity. Let’s see if there are other tournaments, if he is given the white-ball cricket back to him, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him going at No. 4 and winning matches for the country.”

“I would look at somebody else” – Sunil Gavaskar on ODI return for Ajinkya Rahane

While talking about this, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has also said that the time is not right for Ajinkya Rahane to return to India’s white-ball squads. According to him, the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad should be preferred ahead of him as well. While Jaiswal has 428 runs to his name from nine games in IPL 2023, Gaikwad has scored 354 runs from 10 matches as well.

Gavaskar said: “Yes, I think it’s a good idea but I would say not at the moment. White-ball game, no Test match definitely yes, but white-ball game, no, I would look at somebody else. Maybe somebody who has been doing well in the white-ball format.“Somebody like an opening batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, if they don’t find place at the top of the order, they can bat in the middle-order.”