Warne backs Rahane for Indian limited-overs’ squad return

Terming Ajinkya Rahane as a "quality player", spin great Shane Warne reckons that Rajasthan Royals' skipper Rahane will soon return to the Indian limited-over squads.

After a below par show with the six-match ODI squad in South Africa earlier this year, Rahane was excluded from the 16-man ODI squad for the three-match series in England in July this year.

The 29-year-old was involved in a match-winning partnership with Virat Kohli in the first ODI in Durban, playing a 86-ball 79 run knock but could only manage 11, 8, 8 and 34 (not out) runs in the rest of the series.

Warne said, "I think he (Rahane) is obviously disappointed. But Rahane is a quality player, he is a quality act. We know he has the class."

"He will be captaining the Test side against Afghanistan. Rahane is a wanted player and will be back. He will be playing ODIs and T20Is soon," opined the Rajasthan Royals' mentor.

Warne also heaped praise on Jofra Archer, the medium-pacer who missed the first few games for the Royals but later emerged with some clinical shows to help the side get back on the winning track and said Rajasthan still have a chance to enter the IPL play-offs.

"Archer is a class player, with him we have more chance (to enter the play-offs). Disappointed not to have him for the first few games," the 48-year-old said.

"Our chances are pretty good as players like Archer definitely help the side. He has been brilliant for us," added Warne.

On being queried whether it has been a regret for him for not being able to lead the Australian side, the cricketing great said, "No, not all regret. Lucky to have played under good captains for Australia. I enjoyed being the vice captain."

"I had a wonderful opportunity to work with captains like Mark Taylor, Allan Border. But I really enjoyed being the captain of Rajasthan in the first ever IPL 2008," said Warne.

Rahane fined

Rajasthan Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane has been fined Rs  12 lakh after his team maintained slow-over rate during their Indian Premier League match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium here.

On Sunday, the Rahane-led side outclassed the defending champions Mumbai Indians by seven wickets.

Rajasthan Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during their IPL match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on May 13," an IPL release said on Monday.

"As it was his team's first offence of the season under the IPL's Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Mr Rahane was fined Rs  12 lakh," the release said.