Ajinkya Rahane is looking forward to Ranji Trophy, looks in fine touch: Mumbai coach Amol Mazumdar
India Today
While Ajinkya Rahane has begun traiining with the Mumbai team ahead of Ranji Trophy, Cheteshwar Pujara hit the nets at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot.
Ajinkya Rahane is looking forward to playing in the Ranji Trophy and he has been training with the Mumbai team, its coach Amol Mazumdar said on Thursday. Rahane needs a good Ranji Trophy season to regain the selectors' faith after a series of poor outings for the senior national team.
Rahane's form has been a cause for concern as the senior batter averaged less than 20 over the last 2 years. In the 2 Tests he played in 2022, Rahane managed just 68 runs as India lost the Test series in South Africa. Rahane was removed as vice-captain ahead of India's tour of South Africa due to poor form.
Questions have been asked of Rahane's place in the Test team but Amol Mazumdar believes that the senior batter will be able to regain form once he regains confidence and that the upcoming Ranji Trophy will be of good help.
The Elite group games will start from February 16 after the Plate Group matches begin from February 10 as the BCCI confirmed that the Ranji Trophy will be held in two phases in 2022.
With the Test series against Sri Lanka pushed back to March, the Ranji Trophy offers a good opportunity to both Rahane and under-fire Cheteshwar Pujara to win back the selectors' faith.
"Ajinkya is definitely looking forward to it. We have met a few times now, he has been practising with the Mumbai team. He has had about couple of sessions already. Looked absolutely in fine touch," Mumbai coach Amol Muzumdar told PTI.
"We don't have to look too much into the future but what is lying ahead of us is Ranji Trophy. They both are due for a big one. I feel it is just a question of confidence. Sometimes batting is nothing but confidence.
