Hampshire Cricket announced the signing of India Test batsman, Ajinkya Rahane.
The 30-year-old is to become Hampshire’s first Indian overseas
player and will feature in eight Specsavers County Championship fixtures
throughout May, June and the start of July, subject to visa clearance.
Rahane will replace
South Africa batsman Aiden Markram, who will end his spell with Hampshire at
the end of the Royal London One-Day Cup group-stage prior to joining up with
his national side before this summer’s ICC Cricket World Cup.
Director of cricket
Giles White said: “We’re delighted to attract a player of Ajinkya’s class and
with both Aiden and Dimuth selected for the World Cup, we were obviously in the
market for a top-order batsman.
“Ajinkya showed an
interest early on and the way things have played out it’s a great opportunity
to get him over – we’re really excited to have him with us.
“He’s enjoyed playing
at the Ageas Bowl previously and it’s going to be great to have a player of his
stature joining the dressing room.”
The batsman who
averages 40.55 in Tests was omitted from this summers’ World Cup squad by India
and has not played for his national side since February 2018.
Despite this
omission he brings a wealth of experience with him to the Ageas Bowl with 3,488
Test runs in 56 matches with nine centuries and 17 fifties.
His 90 ODI matches
have mustered 2,962 runs at an average of 35.26 as well as boasting an average of 50.78 with the bat in
125 first-class matches, including an astounding 29 hundreds.
Rahane said: “I am
excited to be the first Indian to play for Hampshire, a county which has a
glowing reputation.
“I hope to score
runs and win as a team and would like to thanks BCCI for allowing me to play.”
