'Of course...' - Ajinkya Rahane makes priceless 'CSK' remark following his valiant knock in first innings of WTC Final

Ajinkya Rahane (Source: Twitter)

Ajinkya Rahane's selection for the World Test Championship (WTC) final was a major talking point among cricket fans. The veteran batter was axed from the Indian Test team following a poor run of form, but as he said during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, "My best is yet to come," Rahane silenced everyone with a gutsy knock in the Ultimate Test against Australia to keep India's hopes alive.

Rahane isn't recognised for his T20 abilities, but MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) trusted in him, and he repaid them with a stellar performance that helped the team win its fifth IPL title. In 14 matches, the 35-year-old scored 326 runs at a staggering strike rate of 172.49 with two half-centuries. However, Rahane's inclusion in the WTC final was not only based on his IPL performances but also because he had a good outing in the domestic circuit.

When the Indian top-order crumbled against the Australian pace attack in the first innings, it took Rahane's fightback to get India back on track, proving the real reason behind his selection. India was four down for just 71 runs, and Rahane led the charge with an 89-run knock, forged a century partnership with Shardul Thakur to deny India a follow-on and put on a respectable total of 296.

Following Rahane's sensational innings, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh asked him on Star Sports, "Was there an influence of Chennai Super Kings in that knock?" Without hesitation, Rahane replied: "Of course. I really enjoyed my stay at CSK."

This IPL has been a sort of liberation for him: Ravi Shastri

The right-handed batter, who was also India's top run-scorer in the last cycle of the WTC final against New Zealand, received applause from the entire cricket fraternity. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also praised Rahane's knock and credited his IPL performance for his incredible comeback.

"He played domestic cricket, didn’t give up. Waited for his opportunity and I think, in many ways, this IPL has been a sort of liberation for him. It’s allowed him to come out of his comfort zone and play in the manner he has been playing now, freely. There are no cobwebs in the mind, all those have been cleared. He comes out and plays his natural game," Shastri said.