WTC final | Once Iyer was injured, you had to look in Rahane's direction, says Ravi Shastri

WTC final | Once Shreyas Iyer was injured, you had to look in Ajinkya Rahane’s direction, says Ravi Shastri

Former head coach Ravi Shastri feels that Ajinkya Rahane was a certainty to make the Indian squad for the World Test Championship final against Australia once Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to lower-back stress fracture.

The WTC final will be played at the Oval in London from June 7-11.

Shastri, who coached the Indian team for six out of seven years between 2014 to 2021, sarcastically commented that people who presumed that the former India captain made it to the Test team on basis of three IPL knocks, “must have been on holiday when he scored 600 plus runs in domestic cricket.”

“I’m so glad he’s made it to the side. He batted beautifully in these two-three games he’s played in the IPL, has looked in great touch. And let’s not forget the experience he has. The moment Shreyas Iyer was injured, you had to look in that direction,” Shastri told ESPN Cricinfo.

Rahane's pedigree is such that he always had a shot, considering his contribution as a skipper to one of India's greatest Test triumphs overseas when the team won in Australia in 2021.

“Absolutely, it’s a one-off big game, like the Super Bowl, and you need your experienced player. Don’t forget just two-and-a-half years ago, the man won a Test series in Australia. He was the captain when Virat went (on paternity leave) and did a sterling job.”

Shastri termed Rahane's comeback as a reward for his impressive domestic show.