No response from selectors: Rahane
Speaking to Sky Sports in an interview with Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, Rahane emphasised his enduring passion for red-ball cricket.
"I still want to play Test cricket," Rahane said.
"I'm really passionate about it and enjoying my game at the moment. I'm here in London just for a few days, but I brought my trainers and workout gear to stay fit. Our domestic season is around the corner, and preparations have begun," he added.
When asked about the challenges of a comeback — especially with the team management now leaning toward younger players following the Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — the 37-year-old remained composed, stressing that he's focused on things within his control.
With Shubman Gill now occupying Kohli's No. 4 spot and Rishabh Pant slotted in at No. 5 as vice-captain, KL Rahul appears to be the only member of the previous core still in the selectors' plans.
Despite this, the top-order batter remains hopeful and committed to domestic cricket as a pathway back into the Test side.
Since losing his place in the Indian Test squad, he has led Mumbai in two successive Ranji Trophy seasons, guiding them to their 42nd title in 2023-24 and a runners-up finish in 2024-25. He also featured in Mumbai's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy-winning campaign.
In the 2024-25 Ranji season, the right-handed batter scored 467 runs in 14 innings at an average of 35.92, including one century and a fifty.
He was also the top scorer for Kolkata Knight Riders in a disappointing IPL 2025 season, amassing 390 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 147.27, as the team finished eighth out of ten.
"For me, it's all about focusing on the controllable things," he said.
"Honestly, I tried to reach out to the selectors, but there was no response. As a player, all I can do is keep playing, keep enjoying the game, and give my best every time. I love playing Test cricket, I love red-ball cricket ...it's a passion. The love for the game keeps me going," he concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business Recorder
India suffer Pant setback in fourth Test against England
MANCHESTER: India suffered a potentially major setback when Rishabh Pant retired hurt on the first day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday before they reached stumps on 264-4. Earlier, spinner Liam Dawson marked his first Test in eight years with the key wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal after England captain Ben Stokes went against history by opting to bowl first after winning the toss. No team winning the toss and bowling first has ever won a Test at Old Trafford. India, 2-1 down after three Tests, must win in Manchester if they are to keep alive their hopes of winning the five-match series. But the tourists will have to make history as they have never managed to win in nine previous Tests at Old Trafford. India, got through the first session without losing a wicket only for three batsmen, including skipper Shubman Gill, to be dismissed before tea. The recalled Sai Sudharsan, dropped on 20, twice hooked fast bowler Jofra Archer for four before Pant launched Brydon Carse for a superb straight six. But the audacious Pant was hurt when trying to reverse sweep off a yorker-length delivery from paceman Chris Woakes – a shot many batsmen would not even contemplate let alone attempt. England appealed for lbw but a review revealed wicketkeeper Pant had got an inside edge before the ball deflected onto his right foot. Pant, who had made 37 off 48 balls, took his boot off and, following on-field treatment, eventually limped into a buggy before being driven off the field, with India then 212-3. Soon afterwards Sudharsan fell for a well-made 61 when a top-edged swivel pull off a shirt ball from lively paceman Stokes that cramped him for room flew straight to Carse at long leg. Even though the floodlights were on, there were still several overs remaining when the umpires took the players off for bad light at 1721 GMT despite England bowling spin at both ends with Dawson and the part-time off-breaks of Joe Root. Jaiswal and fellow opener KL Rahul defied difficult conditions and testing bowling from Woakes and Jofra Archer to take India to 78-0 at lunch But Rahul had added just six more runs to his lunch score of 40 when, trying to force Woakes off the back foot, he edged to Zak Crawley at third slip, leaving India 94-1. Jaiswal late-cut Carse for four to go to 49 before completing a 96-ball fifty. Dawson, recalled after 21-year-old off-spinner Shoaib Bashir suffered a series-ending finger injury during England's thrilling 22-run win in the third Test at Lord's, did not bowl before lunch. But the Hampshire veteran, 35, playing his first Test since 2017, needed just seven balls to strike on Wednesday when Jaiswal pushed forward defensively to a good-length delivery and edged to Harry Brook at first slip. Gill, who had accused England of contravening 'the spirit of cricket' with their time-wasting tactics during an ill-tempered match at Lord's, was greeted with a chorus of boos from spectators as he walked out to the middle. Gill dismissed Shortly after Sudharsan was dropped by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off the bowling of Stokes, the England skipper removed Gill for 12 when his opposing skipper played no shot and was judged lbw after a vociferous appeal from the all-rounder. Gill reviewed, but to no avail, with India now 140-3. His early exit means he has scored just 34 runs in his past three innings after scoring three hundreds in the first two Tests. India selected paceman Jasprit Bumrah again even though they had previously announced he would only play three Tests in the series. The policy was aimed at protecting the world's top-ranked bowler following a back injury. Bumrah missed the second Test in Birmingham, which India won, but returned for the dramatic match at Lord's. The fifth and final Test takes place at the Oval, starting on July 31.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
India's Gill accuses England of ignoring ‘spirit of the game' with time-wasting
MANCHESTER: India captain Shubman Gill accused England of ignoring the 'spirit of cricket' after the hosts' time-wasting tactics in the third Test at Lord's sparked an angry flare-up between the teams. The tourists ought to have been able to bowl two overs late in the third day's play of the third Test after being dismissed for 387 – exactly level with England's first-innings total. Crawley, however, ensured there were only six deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah before stumps by twice withdrawing from his stance and then calling for the physio after the fifth ball appeared to make only minimal contact with his glove. Tempers flared as it became evident India would not be able to bowl another over before the close, with host broadcaster Sky Sports issuing an on-air apology after a stump microphone picked up Gill swearing angrily at Crawley. Stokes ready to push through pain barrier against India England went on to win a thrilling match by 22 runs to go 2-1 up in a five-match series. Gill, in his first campaign as India captain, addressed the issue on the eve of the fourth Test at Old Trafford. 'A lot of people have been talking about it so let me just clear the air once and for all,' the 25-year-old Gill said on Tuesday. 'The English batsmen on that day had seven minutes of play left, they were 90 seconds late to come to the crease, not 10, not 20, 90 seconds late. 'Yes, most of the teams use this (delaying tactic), even if we were in this position we would have liked to play fewer overs but there's a manner to do it. 'If you get hit on your body, the physios are allowed to come on and that is something that is fair. But to be able to come 90 seconds late to the crease is not something that comes in the spirit of the game.' Gill admitted he was not proud of swearing at Crawley but said it took place in the context of rising tensions. 'We had no intention of doing that whatsoever but you're playing a game, you're playing to win and there are a lot of emotions,' said the India skipper. 'When you see there are things happening that should not happen, sometimes emotions come out of nowhere.'
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
PBCC gets cricket stadium; Indian blind cricket team invited
LAHORE: Punjab Sports Department handed over the control of Asia's first designated Blind Cricket Stadium to Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) at an impressive ceremony held at Nishtar Park Sports Complex E-Library and Youth Centre on Monday. Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar was the chief guest on this occasion. Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial, Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Khizar Afzaal Chaudhry, Director Admin Dr M Kaleem, Director Youth Affairs Syed Omair Hasan, Divisional Sports Officer Tanveer Abbas and members and officials of World Champion Pakistan Blind Cricket Team were also present on this occasion. Divisional Sports Officer Tanveer Abbas and PBCC Syed Sultan Shah singed the handing over documents at the ceremony. Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the Blind Cricket Stadium at Rakh Jhedu is a gift from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for Blind Cricket Team. 'Pakistan is the first country in Asia to build a dedicated cricket stadium for blind cricket team. I congratulated the National Blind cricket team on this great achievement,' he said, adding: 'There is no doubt that the National Blind cricket team has won several coveted world titles for the country'. Faisal Ayub Khokhar invited Indian blind cricket team to play competitive cricket against Pakistan team at this venue. 'We are quite upbeat that Pakistan team once again will beat India at the newly constructed stadium. There is no doubt that India had more resources than Pakistan but even then they don't have a single stadium dedicated for their national blind cricket team.' He further said that Punjab Sports Department has completed the construction of Blind Cricket stadium with full dedication for which I paid tribute to the entire team of Punjab Sports Department. 'Probably, today is the biggest day in the last one and half year'. Sharing more details, he announced that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will inaugurate the International Squash Complex at Nishtar Park Sports Complex and first baseball ground of the province within two months' period. 'Punjab Sports Department is promoting true sports culture across the province in accordance with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz,' he said. Earlier, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial presented a welcome address stating that pedal tennis courts are being constructed in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. 'A state-of-the-art volleyball complex is also being constructed in Lahore, he said.' He further said that other special children will also be able to play at the newly constructed Blind Cricket Stadium. 'Punjab Sports Department is taking effective measures for the promotion of sports culture across all districts of the province,' he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
