Ravi Shastri feels former Team India vice-captain should be with the team ‘even if he is a waterboy’

The Chennai Super Kings are off to a strong start in the 2023 Indian Premier League. After losing to Gujarat Titans on the opening day, CSK went on to easily overcome Lucknow Super Giants as well as Mumbai Indians. Ruturaj Gaikwad has consistently performed well with the bat in each of the team’s three matches, but so far, CSK’s spinners have outperformed their pace attack. Ajinkya Rahane, who had made his professional debut for the Super Kings in the team’s last game, surprised many by being one of its star players.

After CSK was forced to take the field in the absence of England all-rounders Ben Stokes (injury) along with Moeen Ali, Rahane was added to the starting lineup (unwell). Rahane scored a magnificent 61 off just 27 deliveries while Mumbai Indians bowlers were chasing a 158-run total at the Wankhede Stadium. He hammered seven fours plus three sixes in the process.

Although there were some doubts about CSK’s selection of Rahane during the auction in December 2022 and the Indian hitter isn’t well-known for his huge hits, so far so good for the team. Rahane and Ravi Shastri, the former India coach and close friend of the Indian team, expressed their satisfaction with Rahane’s batting against MI and showered the veteran batter with accolades.

What did Ravi Shastri say about the former Team India vice-captain?

The former Team India head coach Ravi-Shastri spoke to EspnCricinfo and spoke about how his innings against Australia was the best he had ever seen. He said that, “I loved Ajinkya Rahane’s innings. He was our captain in Australia, where I saw one of the greatest overseas hundreds by an Indian player. That will go right up with the very best, simply because of where India were at the start of the innings. He had taken over as captain, we were 36 all-out. On Boxing Day, to play like that was fantastic.”

Shastri then praised Ajinkya Rahane for his epic knock against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Saturday. He said, “The timing, the purity of the innings was a treat to the eyes (against MI). Lovely shots, I’m glad for him. He’s such a team man. He’s captained India, whichever franchise or team he plays for, he might not be captain but you can be rest assured, you won’t get a better team man. Even if it comes to carrying water, or in the dressing room, helping out someone. He’s a top-class example of the way the game should be played.”