Optimistic Ajinkya Rahane Opens Up About His Ambitions Of ODI Comeback

In one of his recent interviews, Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has expressed his desire to make a comeback to ODI cricket. Ajinkya Rahane has been one of the mainstays of India’s red-ball cricket; however, has not played ODI cricket since February 2018 against South Africa when the last of his 90 ODIs arrived. Nevertheless, he has declared making an ODI return as his primary goal for now.

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Ajinkya Rahane kept oscillating between the opening and middle-order regularly without finding consistent spots. Nevertheless, it isn’t easy to blindside the fact that Rahane averaged at least 35 from 2015 to 2018, the best of which came in 2017. That year, the right-handed batsman averaged 48.83 with seven fifties and a solitary hundred in 12 games while opening the innings.

Ajinkya Rahane underlined that the first plan is to make a comeback to ODI cricket. The 32-year old added that he generally does not bring his records into the picture; however, he admits it has been excellent over the last 3-4 years before facing an axe.

“I think the first plan is to come back in ODI cricket. I don’t generally talk about my records but I think an important factor is my record is actually really good over the last 3-4 years before I was dropped,” Rahane told India Today in an exclusive interview.

Rahane continued by saying that regardless of the position he used to bat in his numbers were quite good and whenever an opportunity arises to slot back in, he is ready. Ajinkya Rahane revealed he is putting in the hard work and has confidence and the self-belief in himself.

“Whether it’s opening the batting or at No. 4, my record was very good, my strike rate again was very good. I think my aim is to come back into the ODI set-up. I don’t when the opportunity will come but I have to work hard, I am working really hard on all the aspects. I am really confident about myself. It’s all about having the self belief and being positive, being fearless,” the 32-year-old stated.

If I contribute to my team, I think other factors will happen automatically: Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane, who will ply his trade for the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL season, opined that he does not have anything left to prove to anyone. Instead, it is about playing with freedom and doing well for his team. The Maharashtra-born cricketer stated the same about his ODI cricket comeback, asserting he is concentrating on solely improving himself to get back to contention and that the results will follow.

“I don’t have to prove it to anyone. Yes, IPL is the best platform. I don’t have to prove to anyone, it’s all about playing with freedom and playing for my team and doing well for my team. If I contribute to my team, I think other factors will happen automatically. That said, my records in ODI before I was dropped was very good. I am not thinking about proving to anyone. Working hard on my game and keeping improving day by day and being positive is what I am planning to do,” he added.

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