It shouldn’t happen – Aakash Chopra on whether Ajinkya Rahane should get another chance in ODIs and T20Is

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra feels Ajinkya Rahane should not be considered for India’s limited-overs squad ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023. Rahane got back into the Test team after his impressive performances in IPL 2023 for Chennai Super Kings in the absence of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.

Rahane had delivered while playing in the domestic circuit and also scored 326 runs in 11 innings for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023 and had played a key role in the success of the MS Dhoni-led team.

Meanwhile, Rahane returned with scores of 89 and 46 runs in the World Test Championship final against Australia, which India lost by 209 runs.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel when he was asked about the potential return of Ajinkya Rahane to the limited overs team, “Good question but it will not happen and it shouldn’t happen either. We recently heard Dada’s (Sourav Ganguly) thinking as well, that why was he made the vice-captain and before that, I had also posted a video that you were out for 18 months, made a comeback, did well and suddenly you are the vice-captain of the Indian Test team.”

The renowned commentator feels Rahane’s career in T20Is and ODIs has already ended. Rahane played his last T20I back in 2016 whereas he played his last ODI in 2018 for the national team.

Chopra added, “Nothing against Rahane but it shows the thinking or mentality a little that what are you doing. T20Is and ODIs – I think that bus has already left.”

The former Delhi player highlighted that Rahane got his runs on good surfaces in the IPL and in the powerplay overs.

“There is no doubt that Ajinkya Rahane scored runs in the IPL but where did Ajinkya Rahane score runs in the IPL? He scored the fastest fifty at one point and then he batted amazingly well at the Eden Gardens but certain surfaces and the powerplay.”

Chopra feels Rahane was not able to bring his best on slow pitches like Chennai and his form kept on dipping in the second half of IPL 2023.

“After that, the form kept on dipping, especially on a slow pitch like Chennai. In any case, I feel you will have to look forward, you cannot turn and go backward. There is already no place in batting. So Ajinkya Rahane in my opinion – no, sorry Ajju.”

India will next tour West Indies for two Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is.