Indian stalwart Ajinkya Rahane relived the golden days of the past with a brilliant double century for Mumbai in their ongoing Ranji Trophy match against Hyderabad Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai on Wednesday, December 21.
With the side on 176 runs loss of two wickets in 32.2 overs, Rahane came on to bat. He was brilliantly helped by Yashasvi Jaiswal's 162 runs off 195 balls and the duo stitched together a partnership of 206 runs for the third wicket.
Following the fall of Jaiswal's wicket at the hands of Shashank Mehrotra, Rahane and Sarfaraz Khan then set up a 196-run stand for the fourth wicket to put Mumbai in a commanding position. The Mumbai skipper went on to score 204 runs off 261 balls with the help of 26 fours and three sixes and he played at a strike rate of 78.16.
Tanay Thyagarajan got rid of the veteran batter in the 111th over of Mumbai’s innings, with the side's score at 578 for the loss of four wickets.
Rahane is widely considered India's Test specialist but was snubbed from the squad for the ongoing Bangladesh tour. The right-hander has not made an appearance for the Test team after India’s tour of South Africa earlier in 2022. He didn’t play against Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh, but if he keeps scoring, he has every chance of getting picked for India’s Tests against Australia next year.
In 82 Tests, Rahane has picked up 4931 runs at an average of 38.52 with 12 centuries and 25 half-centuries.
In the domestic stratosphere, this is Rahane's fourth double-century in first-class cricket. It is also his second double ton in his last five first-class matches.
