“Have Gone Back To The Drawing Board And I Am Trying To Be The Ajinkya What I Used To Be In My Initial Days” – Ajinkya Rahane
Updated - 16 Jan 2023, 06:48 PM
The 34-year-old India National Cricket Team batter Ajinkya Rahane has said that he has gone back to the drawing board and is trying to become the batter he used to be in his younger days.
The veteran batter Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane has been out of India’s scheme of things for a long period of time. He last played Test cricket on the India tour of South Africa 2021-2022. His last ODI was in 2018 against South Africa and his last T20I was in 2016 against West Indies.
“I was thinking about old times and when I first came into Ranji team (back in 2007).How I used to play, what was my thought process. I have gone back to the drawing board and I am trying to be the Ajinkya what I used to be in my initial days. The idea is to keep things simple,” he added.,” Rahane told PTI during an interaction on the eve of Mumbai’s penultimate Ranji Trophy game against arch-rivals Delhi.
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Ajinkya Rahane further revealed that he has made some minor changes to his technique as it is crucial for a player to keep evolving.
“Small changes obviously. You have to evolve continuously as a player and continue to work and improve upon your strategies.
“No major changes but small changes, skill wise, now I have to be in the moment thinking for Mumbai and doing well for them. That’s on my mind completely,” he said.
“I am not thinking too much about my own batting but preparation matters a lot to me. Preparation has been really good even before Ranji season,” added the 34-year-old.
Control the controllables and not dwell on things that are not in your hands – Ajinkya Rahane’s advice for Shaw and Sarfaraz
Ajinkya Rahane was further asked to share a piece of advice for the young batting sensations Prithvi Shaw, who finally got his T20I recall for the upcoming New Zealand series, and Sarfaraz Khan, who is constantly being ignored by the selectors despite being on an exceptional run in domestic cricket.
“My advice to them would be simple. Control the controllables and not dwell on things that are not in your hands. Just try and be in the moment and not think too far ahead,” replied Rahane.
Ajinkya Rahane further said that his door is always open for the players to chat with him regarding anything. He feels that providing support to a player who is going through a lean patch is very important.
“You have to put your arm around guys who are going through rough patch. Important to give them freedom to express themselves not only on the field but also off the field.
“The individual can come to me and talk to me about anything that’s going on in his personal life,” the skipper said.
Ajinkya Rahane further showered praise on the dynamic opening batsman Prithvi Shaw for his remarkable 379-run knock against Assam in Ranji Trophy.
“Obviously, Prithvi we all know is an attacking player. He likes to take on the bowler every time.
“When you play a knock like 379, it is important not only to control that aggression and intent to play the shot but also your intent to leave the ball and defend. His determination was great to see from the other end,” he concluded.
Prithvi Shaw recently registered a record-setting triple century in the Elite Group B match against Assam at the Amingaon Cricket Ground in Guwahati. He scored tremendous 379 runs off 383 balls, including 49 fours and 4 sixes. He batted with a strike rate of 98.95, before being cleaned up by Riyan Parag in the 126th over.
Shaw’s remarkable triple ton and Ajinkya Rahane’s amazing 191 helped Mumbai post a humongous 687/4 on the board.
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