'Respect senior players': Ajinkya Rahane sends big message to Gautam Gambhir amid Test struggles

Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane has said the Indian Test team needs to bring back the fight and patience that once defined its success, as he reflected on the team’s recent struggles in the longest format.

Rahane, who recently retired from international cricket, made the comments during his first podcast appearance since retirement. While India have won two ICC trophies in white-ball cricket under head coach Gautam Gambhir in the last two years, the Test team has struggled, including two home series whitewashes. India are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings and are trying to qualify for the final.

Rahane, who last played a Test in 2023, said Test cricket demands character and the ability to survive difficult periods.

“Because I haven’t been playing Test cricket for the last two years, I’ve been sitting at home, watching the Indian team lose matches even in India as well. I think Test cricket needs character. You need to build such characters and play competitive cricket. That’s what’s important. Playing session out. You don’t see many teams do that. I don’t want to pinpoint any team, but you want to see people play out those tough sessions,” Rahane said on the Stick to Cricket podcast.

India will begin a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 15.

Rahane also spoke about Gambhir, with whom he shared the dressing room as a player, but said Test cricket has always been about handling difficult sessions.

“I have played with him [Gambhir]. I was not with KKR when he was the coach. I never played under him when he was the coach. We played together when we came here [in England], and even in India. But I feel Test cricket is always about playing sessions, seeing out tough moments.”

Rahane also pointed to the rapid transition in the Indian Test side. Within six months, India lost Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the Test setup. Without naming anyone directly, he said a Test team needs more experienced players alongside youngsters.

Among the current squad, only Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah have played 50 or more Tests.

“Test cricket fans are actual cricket lovers. What we built apart from the last two years when new players came in Test cricket, I still feel Test cricket needs 7-8 senior players and 2-3 younger players. What we are seeing now is that all the players are actually new. There’s hardly any senior cricketer left. So, Test cricket needs that,” Rahane added.

He also admitted he is concerned about the future of the format.

“Frankly, yes I do (fear for Test cricket). Because the way it is going, we all want Test cricket to survive, to be there – India, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. These 4-5 teams specially. Because what I have seen in the last 2-3 years, you need to keep and respect the senior players, especially because with the Indian team, all the senior players going out together at once, that’s been the issue.”