Ajinkya Rahane India is set to join County Championship club Leicestershire after the upcoming tour of the West Indies. The veteran batsman made a sensational return to the national team during the recent ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 against Australia. He is expected to retain his place in the team for the two Tests against the West Indies next month and then join Leicestershire.
As per a report in PTI, the Mumbai batsman had already signed a contract with Leicestershire in January 2023 and will join Division Two after the West Indies tour. Rahane was expected to play in eight matches for Leicestershire but his return to the national team changed his plans. Rahane will now play in the Royal London Cup, a domestic 50-over tournament in August, and four county matches in September.
Ajinkya, after the two Tests in the West Indies (which are due to end on July 24), is due to fly straight to England and join Leicestershire for the rest of the season. He will play the Royal London Cup in August and likely play four matches. The county matches will take place in September as they are unlikely to be part of the limited overs plans.
The 35-year-old Rahane was the top run-scorer for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy 2022-23 and has also impressed in the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) with eventual champions Chennai Super Kings. His return to the national team was an instant success as he scored 89 and 46 for India in the WTC final against Australia at The Oval.
India will next take on the West Indies in a two-Test and eight-match white-ball series starting July 12. He will return to India in October for domestic cricket where he will captain 41-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai.