Harbhajan Singh slams Rahane's return to Indian Test squad

New Delhi : The announcement of the 15-man squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia by the BCCI selectors on Tuesday has sparked fury among many fans and a few veterans due to Ajinkya Rahane's inclusion. Rahane is making a comeback to the Indian team after being dropped precisely one year ago for the home series against Sri Lanka. However, Harbhajan Singh has indirectly criticized the selectors for omitting a player like "Gilchrist and Pant."

Despite Rahane's selection coming at a time when he has been in excellent form in the ongoing IPL season, hitting sixes with ease and scoring fifties at a remarkable strike rate, many fans have criticized the BCCI for using IPL performance as a criterion for selecting a Test team.

On the other hand, Harbhajan did not mention the IPL factor while discussing Rahane's selection on his YouTube channel. Instead, he supported the decision to pick an experienced and technically-sound batsman as a replacement for the injured Shreyas Iyer.

"He's a brilliant player and has captained India in numerous matches. He has an exceptional technique. I believe the decision to recall him was made based on his current form and the fact that Shreyas Iyer is still not available for the team. With Iyer out, it's a significant opportunity for Rahane to prove himself in a big match. He's also a big player, and I hope he delivers an outstanding performance to justify his selection. I fully support this decision, and I believe it's an excellent one. There was no other alternative, in fact," Harbhajan said.

Harbhajan Singh also said that he will miss Suryakumar Yadav in the Indian Test squad.