Ajinkya Rahane has withdrawn from his tenure with Leicestershire after being recalled to the Indian Test team.
He was anticipated to join the team for the upcoming One-Day Cup but will instead take a brief hiatus from cricket.
India’s next World Test Championship (WTC) assignment is a two-match series in South Africa in December and January.
As Rahane’s replacement, Peter Handscomb will extend his tenure with Leicestershire, for whom he has already played in the County Championship and T20 Blast this season.
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Leicestershire explained in a statement that Rahane’s arrangement with the county had changed “due to increased international commitments” that had not been accounted for in his plans. “[He] has now expressed his desire to take a break from cricket during the months of August and September,” they reported.
The director of cricket for Leicestershire, Claude Henderson, stated, “We fully comprehend Ajinkya’s situation.
He has had a busy schedule in recent months, both in India and with the national team, and we respect his desire to recuperate and spend time with his family.
We have been in continual contact with Ajinkya and recognize that cricket situations can change rapidly.
He is extremely appreciative of our understanding and still intends to play for Leicestershire in the future. “Fortunately, we had prepared for a situation like this, and we are thrilled Peter will remain with the squad.
In addition to his batting and wicketkeeping, he possesses many qualities, including strong leadership, which is a tremendous asset to Lewis Hill and the rest of our team.
Rahane was reinstated to India’s Test squad for the WTC final against Australia and their ensuing series in the West Indies based on his outstanding performances in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy and IPL seasons for Chennai Super Kings. Even more, he was appointed vice-captain for the Caribbean voyage.
In the WTC final, Rahane demonstrated his form with scores of 89 and 46, but against West Indies, he managed only 3 and 8 in his two innings.
On August 3, Leicestershire begins its One-Day Cup campaign with a road match against Surrey at The Oval. Due to the competition’s conflict with the Hundred, most counties still need several first-team players.
