India has recalled Ajinkya Rahane to its squad for the World Test Championship final against Australia, with the veteran batter a chance to play his first international in 16 months.
Rahane was the stand-out name in India’s 15-man squad named on Tuesday for the June 7 decider against Australia at The Oval.
Not picked since January 2022, Rahane has won his way back into the squad on the back of a dominant Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings.
Rahane averages 37.58 against Australia, having struck two centuries against them in Melbourne in 2014 and 2020.
Selectors have also backed in wicketkeeper KS Bharat, after he averaged 20.20 in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy win over Australia and came under fire from critics.
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India indicated earlier this month quick Jasprit Bumrah would still be out after undergoing surgery on his back, as he aims to come back in the home one-day World Cup in October.
Shreyas Iyer is also sidelined by a back injury, while Rishabh Pant is yet to return following his serious car accident in December.
Australia named a 17-man squad for the Test Championship and first two Ashes Tests last week, with the group to be cut down to 15 next month for the game against India.
Chief selector George Bailey has indicated Australia will stick with its tried-and-tested line up for the match, guaranteeing David Warner will open the batting.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.
-AAP
