Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane was a notable inclusion in Team India’s World Test Championship (WTC) final squad, announced by the BCCI last month.

Rahane was recalled to the Test side as Shreyas Iyer’s back injury opened a middle-order slot. The right-hander was dropped from the Test team in 2022 but he had a decent Ranji Trophy 2022-23 season, amassing 634 runs from seven games at an average of 57.63 while leading Mumbai.

While Rahane’s selection received mixed responses from fans and experts alike, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly supported his inclusion and hoped that the seasoned campaigner makes the “most” of the opportunity.

“I have always liked him. He has always been a good player for India,” said Ganguly during a promotional event, as quoted by PTI.

Rahane is currently plying his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He has taken the cricketing world by storm with his dazzling exploits in the cash-rich tournament, scoring 224 runs in six innings at an incredible strike rate of 189.83.

“Opportunities don’t come everyday and if he gets the chance to feature in the playing XI during the WTC final, he will make the most of it. So, I wish him all the best,” he added.

India will take on Australia in the WTC final at the Oval from June 7 to 11. For the marquee clash, KL Rahul was also picked in the Indian squad but he sustained a hamstring injury during an IPL match earlier this week and has been ruled out of the fixture.

Sharing his thoughts on Rahul’s injury, Ganguly said: “It’s unfortunate, I have read that it’s an injury that will keep him out of the IPL as well as the WTC final. Only physios can tell the extent of the injury. Injuries are part of the sport.”

“These boys keep playing all the years, so injuries will happen. So, I wish him a speedy recovery,” he further stated.

Delhi Capitals’ Direct of Cricket also said that they have not given up on making the playoffs in the ongoing IPL. Having lost 6 out of their 9 games so far, the Capitals are placed at the bottom of the points table featuring 10 teams.

“In the last five games, we have won three. We have five more games to go, it could well be that we win five. So, let’s not jump the gun and take it one match at a time,” Ganguly remarked.

(With PTI Inputs)