'Good luck for upcoming endeavours' - Fans wish good luck to Ajinkya Rahane as he signs a County deal with Leicestershire

Ajinkya Rahane (Source: Twitter)

Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane will be heading to England after the Indian T20 League to play in the County Championship 2023 and the Royal London One Day Cup. Rahane signed a deal with Leicestershire on Tuesday. It will be his second stint in County after his brief association with Hampshire in 2019.

The 34-year-old will represent Leicestershire in 8 County Championship matches after joining the team in June. He will also feature in the entire Royal London One Day Cup, which will commence on August 1 and will go on till September 16.

The star batter has been out of contention for selection in the Indian Test team since last year. Rahane was continuously failing to get a big score since his hundred against Australia at MCG in 2020. After his continuous failures in the Test series against South Africa, which India ended up losing 1-2, Rahane was finally dropped from the team.

Along with Rahane, senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara was also dropped from the team and was not selected in the side for two-match Test series against  Sri Lanka in March. However, Pujara found a way back into the team in the rescheduled fifth Test against England played in June. He made strong statements with his performances for Sussex in County Championship Division 2 last year and hence was brought back.

Rahane has been enjoying a great run of form in Ranji Trophy 2023 season, scoring 634 runs, including 2 hundreds in 7 matches in the premier domestic red-ball tournament in India.

I'm really happy to be joining Leicestershire: Ajinkya Rahane

Speaking about the signing for Leicestershire, Rahane said, "I'm really happy to be joining Leicestershire for the upcoming season. I can't wait to play alongside my new teammates and explore the vibrant city of Leicester."

The former India captain is best known for leading a depleted Indian side to a historic series win in Australia in the absence of Virat Kohli. With him not being part of the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy, fans are missing the star cricketer in the Indian whites. Rahane has played 82 Tests scoring 4,931 runs at an average of 38.52.

Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions on Rahane playing County cricket. Here are some of the Tweets:

Wishing @ajinkyarahane88 sir very best for his upcoming endeavours, he is player with a large heart, calm and compose mind set

— Shailesh (@5haile) February 1, 2023

And a former captain, whose humility and persona is unmatched.

— George tibby (@gptib220319) February 1, 2023

Or ajinkya rahane bhi nahi hoga yaar is baar aakhri series hum usi ki captainship me jeete the

— Najim Ali (@NajimAl50273900) February 1, 2023

Ajinkya Rahane will be up for selection in 8 County Championship fixtures after the IPL ends. 😊

He will also be available for Leicestershire's entire One Day Cup campaign.🏆👊🏻😊 #AjinkyaRahane #countycricket #countycricket2023 pic.twitter.com/qzcGHXMuQ8

— Ajinkya Rahane Fanclub (@AjinkyaRahane13) February 1, 2023

@BCCI should give chance @ajinkyarahane88 against Australia @ShreyasIyer15 replacement i want too se ajju Dada back at No.5 😍😍😍😍

— Advait jog (@JogAdvait1) February 1, 2023

Agree 100%. Rahane is a legend of Indian cricket in his own rights... if no @ajinkyarahane88 there would not have been the famous Australian test series win.....

— Abinash Padhi (@abinash_padhi) February 1, 2023

We need @ajinkyarahane88 back for sale of experience

— ™MODERN MASTER™ (@modernmaster_18) February 1, 2023

And the architect of this decade greatest test series win… Absolutely disgraceful of the newspaper and the jurno

— Vaishnav (@vaishnavchari) February 1, 2023

Test discard? I think these media forgot who captained India to famous victory in Australia, especially after 36 all-out, virat left to India and major stars out due to injury. Respect @ajinkyarahane88 https://t.co/NKDINr1sZB

— Srinivasan 🇮🇳 (@skseenu) February 1, 2023

Ajinkya Rahane set to join Leicestershire for Royal London One Day Cup and County Championship in 2023.

— Jaya Suriyan (@ImSurya05) February 1, 2023