WTC Final: I don’t want to think about my past, I just want to start afresh, says Ajinkya Rahane | Cricket News – Times of India

<p>Ajinkya Rahane’s resurgence for CSK, coupled with his promising domestic form, earned him a berth in the WTC final squad against Australia at the Oval. </p>

<p>Rahane finished with 326 runs from 14 matches at an astounding strike rate of 172.48 and was CSK’s fourth-highest run-getter. </p>

<p>Rahane’s experience of English conditions will be beneficial to the Rohit Sharma-led Indian side. </p>

<p>Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting was happy to see Ajinkya Rahane make a comeback to Test squad.</p>

<p>Ponting also felt that his positive intent in the IPL, did help Rahane’s cause. </p>

<p>Ponting feels that Test cricket is easier for Rahane compared to his recent exploits in IPL for CSK. </p>

<p>Rahane last featured in Tests for India in January 2022 and has since been out of favour in the red-ball setup. </p>

<p>Before being dropped, Rahane had a horrendous 2021 where he scored just 479 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 20.82. </p>

<p>Rahane’s last Test century came at the MCG in the Border-Gavaskar series of 2020/21 where he captained India’s comeback after the dismal 36 all out. </p>

<p>Rahane must make full use of the opportunity that has come his way to extend his professional career. </p>

<p>As Australia prepare for the World Test Championship final against India, the men from Down Under would be eager to put their past struggles at The Oval behind them.</p>

<p>In over 140 years of Test cricket in England, Australia have had one of the worst records at The Oval, which will host the final from June 7 to 11 between the top two Test sides.</p>

<p>Australia played at The Oval in 1880 in what was the first-ever Test in England. </p>

<p>The Aussies have managed mere seven wins from 38 Tests at The Oval, putting their success rate at the venue at 18.42 per cent, their poorest across England. </p>

<p>Australia have won just twice in the past 50 years at The Oval. </p>

<p>Australia have 17 wins from 29 matches at Lord’s at a success rate of 43.59 per cent.</p>

<p>India, on the other hand, haven’t fared too well at the venue either having won two, drawn seven and lost five games. </p>

<p>But the Rohit Sharma-led side will be boosted by the 157-run win over England at The Oval in 2021, which was it’s first Test victory at the venue in 40 years. </p>

<p>Australia finished the 2021-23 WTC cycle on top of the table, their only loss being the 1-2 away defeat to India earlier this year. </p>

<p>The Aussies haven’t beaten the Men in Blue, both home and away, in eight years — suffering four successive series defeats. </p>

<p>No one ever doubted Shubman Gill’s class but over the last two months of the IPL, he has suddenly hit a different level. </p>

<p>All the attention is now firmly on Gill and the cricket world is ready to present him as Virat Kohli’s heir apparent. </p>

<p>A decade ago, Kohli took over the mantle from Sachin Tendulkar. </p>

<p>While Kohli’s ODI performances in the early 2010s had a major role in that, his biggest test came in red-ball cricket. </p>

<p>Once Tendulkar retired, in the first Test that he played – against South Africa in Johannesburg – Kohli smashed 119 and 96. </p>

<p>Kohli is still far from being retired but now is the moment of transition. </p>

<p>If Gill has to truly become the claimant of the ‘king of Indian cricket’ title, he has to recreate his T20 magic in Test matches. </p>

<p>Not that Gill hasn’t shown flashes of it already, but come the World Test Championship final at the Oval from June 7, the arc lights will really be on him.</p>

<p>Gill’s job could be slightly more difficult than what it was for Kohli all those years ago, for the simple reason that the Punjab boy is an opener. </p>

<p>The chance of failure while opening the batting in red-ball cricket is higher than at No. 4 or 5, especially when the Test is being played on English soil. </p>