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Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane's prospects of returning to the Indian Test cricket team have become increasingly challenging following consecutive golden ducks in the current Ranji Trophy season. Rahane's struggles began against Andhra, where he was dismissed without scoring by Nitish Kumar Reddy. Batting at number three at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BK in Mumbai, Rahane was declared out LBW in the first innings, failing to add any runs to the scoreboard.
The situation didn't improve for Rahane in Mumbai's second match against Kerala at St Xavier's College Ground in Thumba. Entering the game at a crucial number three position after Mumbai chose to bat first, Rahane was expected to stabilize the innings following the early dismissal of Jay Gokul Bista by Basil Thampi. However, Rahane was unable to turn his fortunes around, falling to a golden duck once again. Thampi claimed Rahane's wicket, reducing Mumbai to a precarious 2 for 0 in just 0.2 overs. Rahane edged the ball, resulting in a straightforward catch for Sanju Samson in the slips.
This string of low scores comes at a time when Rahane was already left out of India's squad for the first two Tests against England. His recent form makes it unlikely that he will be recalled for the remaining three Tests unless he manages to produce an exceptional innings shortly.
Rahane, who has been absent from the Test scene since India's tour of the West Indies last year, also missed the two-match Test series against South Africa. India's recent decision to give Dhruv Jurel his first Test call-up indicates a shift towards investing in new talent, moving beyond seasoned players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane.
Throughout his career, Rahane has played 85 Tests, amassing 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46 and a strike rate of 49.50. His record includes 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. However, his current form in domestic cricket suggests that he faces an uphill battle to regain his spot in the national team, especially in light of India's apparent focus on grooming younger players for the future.
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