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Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane has signed a deal with Leicestershire to play the second half of the county season. The seasoned cricketer will play five County Championship matches and the full One-Day Cup match. Rahane agreed to join the county team last summer before getting a national call during the World Test Championship Final. He then went on the Test tour to the West Indies and didn’t play for the county in 2023.
Leicestershire’s director of cricket, Claude Henderson announced Rahane joining the team, and said, "We are thrilled to welcome someone of Ajinkya's quality to Leicestershire. It was unfortunate that Ajinkya's schedule didn't quite work with ours last year, but it's a massive boost to have secured his services for the business end of this season. He holds immense experience and vital leadership qualities, which will be hugely beneficial to the team alongside his run-scoring ability.”
He added, “Ajinkya's arrival also presents a fantastic opportunity for our batters to learn from one of the game's best." Notably, Leicestershire are currently sitting in fifth spot on the County Championship Division Two points table with seven draws along with a defeat in eight games. The One Day Cup will be played from July 24 to September 22, where Rahane will act as a cover for South African all-rounder Waan Mulder.
On the occasion, Rahane said, "I'm really excited to have another opportunity to come to Leicestershire. I've built a strong rapport with Claude and [head coach] Alfonso [Thomas], and I'm looking forward to playing for the club this summer. I followed the team's results last year and was very impressed with what I saw. I'm hoping to enjoy my cricket and contribute to more success for the club this season."
