Interview: 'I am a batsman and my job is to score runs' - Ajinkya Rahane of Rajasthan Royals

Ajinkya Rahane – Hoping to make a mark

Ajinkya Rahane has been the ‘nearly man’ of Indian cricket for a while now. Despite consistently putting in tremendous performances in the domestic circuit, he has repeatedly been kept on the fringes of the national team and hasn’t got too many chances to make a mark on the international front. But anyone who’s ever seen him bat will vouch that Rahane’s time will come; talent as prodigious as that can’t be kept hidden for long. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda correspondent Taruka Srivastava, Rahane spoke about a variety of subjects. Here are the excerpts:

Q. What are your thoughts on Sachin’s retirement?

I consider myself very lucky to have played alongside such a great player like him and shared the dressing room with him. I have learnt a lot from him both on and off field. The first time I met him was during my U19 camp for the New Zealand tour. I played with him in the Mumbai Indians team, in Ranji Trophy, and then in the Indian team. I have had lots of partnerships with him on the field. He is very humble and approachable whenever I want to talk about cricket. He is an inspiration for everyone who plays cricket. I still remember him telling me, “You are a good player. Keep working hard and do not change your game.”

Q. How was your experience of playing for Rajasthan Royals?

It was a great experience to play for Rajasthan Royals. I have got a fair amount of chances to play for them for which I am really thankful. We reached the finals of the CLT20 but didn’t win the cup which was a little disappointing, but then that’s how it is in sports – only one team can be the winner. I am very proud of my team as we did the best we could. We work as a unit, which has helped us perform well in the IPL as well as CLT20.

Q. Do you feel frustrated when you are not picked for the Indian team despite some good performances?

I am a very positive person and I think there is no point getting frustrated about things which are not in our hands, so I put all the energy to focus on my game. I believe in working hard and improving every aspect of my game, everyday, so that whenever I get the opportunity to represent my country, I am prepared in every way to make the best of it. I play cricket throughout the year and being patient has always worked for me. Currently, I am playing the Times Shield tournament and am also preparing for Ranji trophy, so there’s no time to feel frustrated!

Q. Do you think you will get the no. 4 position?

If the team management and the captain think that I fit into that position then I will be more than happy to play there. I am a batsman and my job is to score runs at whatever position I am sent in. I have been an opening batsman since I started cricket but I can perform well at any position. Sometimes a situation demands certain players to be sent on certain positions as a part of the overall strategy and therefore one can’t always have a choice with regards to playing position. I think playing international cricket has taught me to deliver my best in every way possible.

Q. Is Dhoni encouraging towards youngsters? What do you think about him as a captain?

Yes, Dhoni is a good captain and a very humble person. When I was in the team he would always tell me to continue working hard on my game and not worry about other irrelevant things. He likes my attitude and approach towards cricket.

Q. What about Duncan Fletcher? How much has he helped you in the time you’ve interacted with him?

Fletcher is really good. It’s been two years that I have been working with him and he guides me a lot. I would always talk to him about technique during the nets. He accompanied us for the India A tour and told me that I have improved a lot on my game.

Q. Your Test debut was a disaster. What do you think went wrong? Too much pressure?

No, there was no pressure as such. Representing India in Tests was always my dream and I am happy that it came true. I agree that I did not perform to my full potential but I have rectified my mistakes. As a player there are bound to be some days when you are not able to deliver your best but instead of whining, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude. I have improved a lot and hopefully, the next time when I get the opportunity, I will score some good runs.

Q. What is your most preferred format of the game?

As a cricketer I don’t think I can have a preference. Every format is important in itself and I keep myself prepared to compete in each one.