WTC squad announced: Ajinkya Rahane returns on the back of a stellar run in IPL 2023

BCCI announced the Indian squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia that will be played at the Oval in England from June 7. Ajinkya Rahane makes a comeback to the national team after one-and-a-half years after a stellar show in the ongoing IPL season.

In the last game against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rahane slammed quick 71 runs (not out) off 29 balls to guide CSK to an imposing 235 for four after being asked to bat. His innings for CSK has been appreciated and also talks volumes about how the player has still got some cricket to show at the age of 34.

The other major reason for his comeback could be the absence of middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer and wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant due to their respective injuries.

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.

There are three spinners in the squad with R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel all making the cut. As Jasprit Bumrah is also away due to injury, the pace department will be handled by  Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, and Jaydev Unadkat.