Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane has revealed that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are his closest friends in the Indian team and recalls about how he was completely ‘blank’ when he got a phone call from the BCCI on his selection to the team.
Over the past few years, the Mumbaikar has developed significantly as a cricketer and is now an integral part of the Indian batting line-up in all the formats in the present day. Recently awarded the prestigious ‘Arjuna Award’, the Maharashtrian admits that the team’s aim is to be the number 1 team in the world.
The impressive fact about Rahane’s career has been his performances overseas, being successful every time India toured alien conditions.
Also Read: Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane conferred with Arjuna Award
The right-handed batsman admits that he was quite shy when he was selected for the Indian national team for the first time and mentions how veteran players like MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag made him comfortable.
As quoted from the Hindustan Times, the in-form batsman speaks about his reaction after being told about his selection to the team, “I was at home when I got a call from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). I was completely blank for a couple of seconds. I told my mother about it. We were very happy. I had already played domestic cricket for about six years.”
“My ultimate goal was to represent my country. I played my first T-20 game in England in 2011. Sachin (Tendulkar), MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag were part of that team. I was shy and nervous. But they made me feel comfortable. They gave me the confidence to express myself,” added Rahane.
Like most Indian children, the Indian batsman played cricket in his housing society and a neighbour spotted that his correct batting technique, and told his father to send him to trials.
Also Read: Ajinkya Rahane wants to 'always remain 3 steps ahead of the opposition'
Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar are Rahane's role models and he feels that there is a lot to learn from the duo apart from cricket, “Sachin and Rahul Dravid are my role models, not only for their cricketing abilities, but also for the people they are off the field,” said Rahane.
The top-order batsman feels that ‘Pressure’ in the game of cricket should be taken positively and can bring out the best in the cricketer, “Pressure is just a word. It is how you take it. I always take it in a positive and a challenging way. Pressure can either bring the best out of you or take you down."
"Whenever I feel I am under pressure, or a bit nervous, I perform better.”
Rahane and the Indian team face New Zealand in the first test match of the home series in Kanpur on 22nd September.
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