Ajinkya Rahane for 2023 World Cup? Here's what Sunil Gavaskar has to say

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Ajinkya Rahane is set to make his Test comeback for India after a gap of more than one month. The 34-year-old former vice-captain of the team was recently named in the 15-member squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia from June 7.

The senior right-hander has been in exceptional form in the IPL 2023 and impressed in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 season as well. The fact that Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to a back injury also helped Rahane in making a sensational comeback.

Now a question is being raised if he can feature in India's middle-order at the upcoming 2023 World Cup in India as well? Whether Iyer would be available is not a surety. Also, India will also be without Rishabh Pant who is recovering from the fatal injury which he suffered in December.

An experienced batter in a big ICC event would be ideal but legendary Sunil Gavaskar thinks otherwise. The Little Master has instead backed a youngster like Ruturaj Gaikwad or Yashasvi Jaiswal to grab a middle-order spot if available.

"Good idea but no not at the moment. Rahane in a Test match yes, but white-ball somebody else, some youngster who is doing well. like Gaikwad or Yashasvi. There is no place at top but they can get a place in the middle," Gavaskar has told Star Sports.

On the flip side, former India pacer S Sreesanth has said he won't be surprised to see Rahane's named in India's World Cup squad as well.

"I will not be surprised," said Sreesanth who was standing besides Gavaskar on the show.

Rahane last played an ODI match for India in February 2018. He has featured 90 ODIs and scored 2962 runs at an average of 35.26.