‘Hope to see you play a phenomenal innings in WTC final’ – Cricketing fraternity extends warm wishes to Ajinkya Rahane on his 35th birthday

Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source : Twiiter/BCCI)

Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane is celebrating his 35th birthday on Tuesday, June 6. Rahane is currently in London to take part in the much-awaited 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, June 7.

Rahane was included in India’s WTC final squad following his impressive display in the Indian domestic circuit recently, including his outings in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season and the Ranji Trophy 2022-23.

He was outstanding for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy season 2022-23, amassing 634 runs and smashing two hundreds, including a double-century, in seven matches. However, the Rahane-led Mumbai failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Rahane had an outstanding campaign this year while playing for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. The 35-year-old played a significant role in most of Chennai’s games, and finished as their fourth-highest run scorer with 326 runs in 14 innings, including two half-centuries at an impressive strike rate of 172.48.

His highest score in the IPL 2023 came against the two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The Maharashtra-born cricketer scored an unbeaten 71 off just 29 deliveries, including six boundaries and five maximums, and helped his side to register a comfortable 49-run win over the Nitish Rana-led side at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Courtesy of his blistering knock, he emerged as the Player of the Match.

Rahane also won the IPL title with CSK this year, defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) in a rain-shortened summit clash on May 29 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The 35-year-old played a pivotal role for Chennai in the final match as well, scoring 27 off 13 balls. Notably, this was Rahane’s maiden IPL title, while CSK’s fifth.

Rahane, who made his Test debut in 2013, hopes to continue his batting exploits in India’s one-off Test against Australia. The CSK batter has amassed 4931 runs in 140 innings in Test Cricket, including 12 hundreds and 25 half-centuries, at an average of 38.5 and a strike rate of 49.4. His best Test score of 188 came against New Zealand in October 2016 in Indore.

As he celebrates his 35th birthday, members of the cricketing fraternity took to social media to extend their warm wishes.

Here is how the cricketing fraternity extended its wishes to Ajinkya Rahane: