Ajinkya Rahane – ‘Mr Consistent for Team India’

Ajinkya Rahane – ‘Mr Consistent for Team India’: The cap of ‘Mr Consistent’ can firmly sit on the head of the 27 year old, Ajinkya Rahane.

Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane, made his Test debut on 22^nd March, 2013, against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, played at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi.

Rahane, who has been amongst the runs for the last 20 months or so in Tests and ODIs, admits his Test century at Lord’s remains very close to his heart.

Having played in 18 Test matches, so far, he has scored a total of 1,353 runs with 147 as the highest score. He has 4 centuries and 7 half-centuries to his credit, averaging 43.64 per innings.

“Every hundred is special, be it at Wellington or at Lord’s. But yes this is special because I have done this at Lord’s. I was a little nervous last night because this is my first match at this ground. But I calmed down in the morning realising that all I need to do was bat patiently until I face 25-30 deliveries and then see how it will go,” Rahane had said on his scoring his second Test century at Lord’s, the Mecca of World Cricket.

“I was telling myself to play as close to the body as possible. After 25-35 runs, I started taking my chances. It was challenging and a completely different wicket. I had a good partnership with Bhuvneshwar. When he first came in to bat, I asked him if he was okay with me taking singles early in the over. And he said he was confident, so I trusted him”, he added.

Rahane was selected to the national team for the longer format after the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar. He performed exceedingly well in both against South Africa and New Zealand. He scored a century and a half-century in Wellington and Durban, respectively.

Ajinkya had a reasonably good Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15 series, Down Under, even though the team had a very bad and a forgettable run.  He registered a fine hundred in Melbourne. He scored 399 runs in the four-match Test series.

In the 58 ODIs that Rahane has played, thus far, he has scored 1,705 runs at an average of 31.00 with 111 as the highest score with 2 centuries and 10 half-centuries to his credit.

In the 81 IPL games that he has featured, Rahane has amassed 2,195 runs at an average of 33.76 with 103* as the highest score. He has one century and 17 half-centuries to his credit.

The 74-year old Ajit Wadekar, who led India to the first-ever overseas Test series victory (1-0) over West Indies, way back in 1970-71, by winning the second test at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad, said, “In IPL, it is very difficult to see a technically correct batsman. But, the only person who comes to mind is Ajinkya Rahane”.

“He knows how to play T20 cricket. He has a good defence and also the temperament to go with his talent. He has many years to go in international cricket”, the legendary Wadekar added.

Rahul Dravid has been largely credited for the improvements that Rahane has shown over the years.

With Dravid guiding him, Rahane has transformed from a shy, longer format specialist into a player capable of batting at any position, in any format.

“Some players performed in one or two series but Rahane was one player who performed well in all the four series,” said Rahul.

About Dravid, Rahane says, “I learn a lot on and off the field from Rahul. I regularly speak to him about my batting and how he used to prepare before a series. He just told me to keep my game simple. Cricket is a funny game. The more you keep it simple, the more you will be successful. Whenever I get an opportunity to talk to Rahul bhai, I talk to him and he tells me to focus on the process. The results always follow.”

Owing his success and high level of confidence he acquired in the last few months, Ajinkya says, “The important thing is my confidence level. I have played some aggressive cricket in the last few months. The innings in Melbourne gave me a great confidence boost. So did the 38 not out in Sydney. My confidence levels really picked up in the last few months”.

Another legendary cricketer, Madhav Apte, who had toured West Indies with great success as an opener in 1952, said, “Technique in the present day has to be re-defined. A lot of it is improvisation. Whether the bat is coming from behind or straight is not relevant. Obviously, technique is important but it is like a clown in a circus. He may do all the foolish acts but he still gives a sound performance. The classical technique that Vijay Merchant, Vinoo Mankad or Vijay Hazare had may not be relevant today”.

Definitely Ajinkya Rahane has come a long way and with his temperament he could continue to hog the limelight in international arena for a long time to come.

Post the disastrous tour to Bangladesh, the ‘five wise men’ in BCCI rested all the senior players and selected a squad with the fringe players and a few discards for a short tour of Zimbabwe consisting of 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is. Young Ajinkya Rahane was appointed as the captain of the ‘Men in Blue.’

Rahane, after playing the first game against Bangladesh in the recently concluded three-match ODI series, was ‘unceremoniously’ dropped, citing the reason that he (Rahane) was very slow and was not able to ‘rotate the strike’.

However, the selectors found him different and bestowed the responsibility of captaincy on Rahane.

On being given the responsibility of leading the team, the young Rahane said that he was very confident to handle this new responsibility.

Speaking to BCCI, Rahane said, “I know how capable I am and I believe in myself. I have learnt a lot from whatever cricket I have played in the last four-five years. I wasn’t thinking about the captaincy. I didn’t know about it. It came as a surprise, but whatever domestic and international cricket I’ve played gave me confidence. I am a very hardworking guy. I always want to be the best in the world and I know my capabilities”.

“As a captain, it is important to back your players and give them confidence. It is very important to lead from the front, be positive and back your team. Whatever international side we play, take them seriously. My motive would be to give all youngsters, confidence; guys who came back, speak with them, give them confidence and motivate them”.

“I think this is a good team. Guys who did well in IPL and domestic season have got their rewards. Every player played their part, and I’m really excited. They are great team-mates and I am looking forward to joining them”.

The newly appointed skipper had said, “Under Dhoni bhai I have learnt a lot from his calmness and the way he handles everything on the field. Virat’s controlled aggression, which you can see in his batting and captaincy, is something I want to learn from him”.

“Rahul bhai likes to keep things really simple and I was with him in Rajasthan Royals. I have my own ideas and I know what I have to do on the field. Obviously the senior players who will be there with me will advise me. The three things I have learnt from those three captains are calmness, controlled aggression, and keeping things simple”, signed off Rahane.

This tour to Zimbabwe truly brought out the leadership qualities in him and his ability to take crucial decisions.

Rahane did not disappoint, The team won the ODI series 3-0 and levelled the T20Is at 1-1.

On their return from Zimbabwe, Team India embarked on a three-Test tour to Sri Lanka under the captaincy of Virat Kohli.

The most notable features of this tour was that Kohli was leading the team for the first full-fledged series under his captaincy, Kumara Sangakkara was to retire from Tests and India was on the hunt for a series victory on Lankan soils after 22 years.

Rahane batted at No 5 in the First Test at Galle, but did not make much of an impression. He scored 0 and 36 in the two innings. Even in the first innings of the second Test at P Sara Oval he could score only 4 runs.

It was at this juncture that the ‘pundits’ started casting aspersions on Rahane’s talent. He silenced all his detractors with a patient knock in the second innings clearly stamping his authority on the number 3 position in the batting order.

His inning was a classic one with no blemishes en-route to the landmark – his 4th Test century in 17 Test matches.

Rahane scored a patient 126 runs off 243 deliveries with the help of 10 hits to the boundary. After losing one of the openers, Lokesh Rahul (the first innings centurion), with just 3 runs on the board, Rahane took over the responsibility of building the innings  along with the other opener, Murali Vijay.

The duo then put up a partnership of 140 runs for the second wicket when Vijay fell LBW after scoring a wonderful 82 runs off 123 deliveries with 4 fours and 2 sixes.

Speaking to reporters at the end of the day, Rahane said, “Batting at number three gave me a lot of happiness. Felt good, especially after getting out cheaply in the first innings. I liked the way I applied myself, I think my focus and concentration level was very good in the second innings and as a Test batsman that focus and hunger was there. I am happy to bat at number three and score a hundred”.

“This hundred will give me a great confidence because conditions were pretty challenging. I was batting on 82 at lunch time. Rohit and me were batting together after lunch, so my plan was to just take singles and go to the other end. It was hot out there and I wanted to play a long innings because in cricket 1 wicket can change the course of the game”.

“I don’t think there is much difference (batting at 3 and 5) but mentally as I said, it was important to play as close to the body as possible. Initially, at least for the first 10-15 overs. The ball does a bit but after that there was no movement here. So, the wicket was also getting slower  and once I got set I decided that I just had to play a big innings for my team”.

“Batting at no. 3 and 5, there is no big technical change that is required, as far as my batting is concerned. But mental adjustment is really important when you bat in sub-continent and abroad. So, it’s important to adjust in your mind and it is important to play according to the situation”.

“When I got out in the first innings, I was very hurt. I worked with batting coach Sanjay Bangar, we came earlier and did some throw downs. So, his hard work and Ravi (Shastri) Bhai’s inputs really helped me in the second innings. My aim was to play as close to my body as possible and just build my innings,” Rahane concluded.

In the recently concluded Cricbuzz Cup Test series in Sri Lanka, Rahane, well-known for his exploits with the bat, rewrote the record books by taking as many as eight catches in the first Test match at Galle.

In a recent interview to TOI, after returning from the Emerald Isle, the 27-year old Mumbaikar said, “Karate gave me flexibility and that helped my fielding. It’s becoming an important aspect of the game. Credit goes to (fielding coach) R Sridhar. Meditation has helped me concentrate for long periods.”

Asked about Rahane’s fielding (catching) efforts, the Team India fielding coach, Sridhar said, “What more can a coaching unit ask for than a player etching his name in the record books. Rahane is one of the most complete fielders in world cricket today. He is excellent in the outfield, and is fantastic close-in as well. He has got a demeanour that suits close-in catching.”

“Rahane has dollops of concentration, is quick to react and stays calm which are the qualities needed to be a close-in fielder. Even God could come, stand at the slips and drop a catch, but not Rahane,” he added.

Speaking about the upcoming home tour of South Africa, Rahane told TOI, “It will be exciting. It feels great because conditions are familiar and the home crowd backs you. I’m just focusing on my preparations so the match situation becomes easy. The challenge for me is to perform with the same intensity and attitude as I did abroad.”

“It will be a challenge to play South Africa, to face their bowling led by Steyn. We played well in South Africa last time. It’s an opportunity for us to play the same brand of cricket we’ve played in Lanka and in the last two years.”

Definitely Rahane has established himself in international cricket and has made himself an integral part of Team India dressing room in all formats of the game.