• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Ajinkya Rahane Pulls Out Of Leicestershire Stint Due To Increased International Commitments

Ajinkya Rahane Pulls Out of Leicestershire Stint Due to Increased International Commitments

image-lkobkdn2Ajinkya Rahane was India's best batter in the WTC Final 2023

Indian batter, Ajinkya Rahane has made a surprise withdrawal from his upcoming stint with Leicestershire County Cricket Club for the One-Day Cup next month, opting instead to take a short break from the game.

Rahane's Leicestershire exit opened the door for Handscomb's extended stay

The decision comes on the heels of Rahane's recall to the Indian Test squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia and the two-match Test series in West Indies. 

Though India's next WTC assignment isn't until December-January in South Africa, Rahane's unexpected change of plans comes amid a demanding schedule and the desire for recovery time.

Leicestershire's director of cricket, Claude Henderson, showed full support for Rahane's choice, saying, "We are fully understanding of Ajinkya's situation."  Henderson acknowledged Rahane's recent hectic routine and accepted his wish to recuperate and spend quality time with his family.

In a statement released by the club, Leicestershire explained that Rahane's decision was "due to increased international commitments," unforeseen at the time of his signing. Despite the sudden shift, Rahane expressed his gratitude to the club and hopes to play for them in the future.

Australian cricketer Peter Handscomb will fill the void left by Rahane, extending his current engagement with Leicestershire. Already a familiar face in the County Championship and T20 Blast this season, Handscomb's presence will be a significant boost to the team.

Rahane's re-entry into the Test team was fuelled by his excellent form in the 2022-23 season of the Ranji Trophy and his performance in the IPL 2023 for Chennai Super Kings. While he impressed with scores of 89 and 46 in the WTC final, his contributions in the West Indies series were dismal, posting scores of just 3 and 8.