Ajinkya Rahane will have a freer mind this time, but he will have his work cut out as well: Sanjay Manjrekar

Speaking exclusively on Star Sports, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar spoke about the mindset that Ajinkya Rahane will bring to the table during the ICC World Test Championship Final, "He (Rahane) was under tremendous pressure the last time when he was playing for India. It's a tough time when a batter goes into bat, thinking that this could be the last innings of his Test career. That is a difficult place to be in. I don't think he will be in that place now as he has seen life after Test cricket, almost like a retired cricketer. Now, he has got the opportunity, I feel his mind will be a lot freer. People might think his IPL form has contributed to his selection and come back. 

But he had a good first-class season as well. So, we might see some benefit there. I have been there. I have been dropped from the Indian team. I have got loads of runs at the first-class level but when you come back to Test cricket, you realize that it’s a completely different ball game. So, Ajinkya Rahane will have a freer mind, but he will have his work cut out as well. Test cricket is a different ball game and he is playing against a top-notch opposition. I have no idea how he is going to bat. There’s some indication that he’s back in form, but it is a completely different scenario."

India are set to play WTC Final against Australia, starting June 7 at the Oval where Rahane would be expected to play a crucial part and would be filled with confidence owing to a great season in IPL 2023 with champions Chennai Super Kings. Rahane amassed 326 runs in IPL 2023 at an impressive strike rate of 172.49, averaging 32.60