Ajinkya Rahane to be seen in India-Sri Lanka Test series [Source: X]Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, who recently announced his international retirement, is set to begin a new chapter. He will be joining the upcoming 2-game Test series between India and Sri Lanka, but in a new and different role.Team India is touring Sri Lanka for a 2-game Test series beginning on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium. Before the official tour, the team also played a 3-day warm-up clash against Sri Lanka Cricket XI at Colombo.Ajinkya Rahane to debut as Test commentatorInterestingly, former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has joined the commentary panel for the India-Sri Lanka series, thus marking his debut as a Test commentator. He will commentate on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV, giving analysis during the two-match Test series. His second stint comes just days after Rahane formally retired from international cricket with an emotional social media message.Rahane has spent nearly 18 years in professional cricket, so this is a natural transition from being inside the dressing room to analysing the game from the outside. Needless to say, his calm personality and reputation for being tactically sound could make him particularly effective in Test commentary, where detailed analysis matters more than simply reacting to every ball. Also Read - Ajinkya Rahane Issues Advisory For Gautam Gambhir, Points Flaws In Indian Test TeamWhy is Rahane a perfect fit for the commentator role?Ajinkya Rahane was once a stalwart in Test cricket for the Indian cricket team. He played 85 Tests for India, scoring 5,077 runs and 12 centuries in the middle order.He also captained India in Test cricket, where they beat Australia in the 2020-2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. So he has experience not only as a batter but also from a leadership and tactical perspective. Hence, overall, Rahane can offer valuable insights from the commentary room, something fans would appreciate. The first Test will begin on August 15 at Galle at 10:00 AM IST.Rahane to play in first season of ETPLHaving said that, while doing commentary, Ajinkya is not stepping away from cricket completely after his international retirement. Instead, he is moving into franchise cricket and will play in the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL). Just eight days after announcing his retirement, Rahane revealed that he had signed with Amsterdam Flames in ETPL. It will be a new six-team competition involving franchises from cities across the Netherlands, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.The inaugural season begins on August 26, with the first stage in the Netherlands followed by the second leg in Ireland. For Ajinkya Rahane, this marks a second stint as a professional player. Since the BCCI doesn’t allow its players to play foreign leagues, Rahane had to first retire officially to become eligible for playing in the ETPL.Also Read - Sri Lanka To Ring Rohit Sharma's Nemesis And Surprising Weapon For India Tests
