Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane was disappointed after missing out the World Cup squad for the 2019 edition. Now, the 31-year-old has started his preparation for the next World Cup.
The present Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane last played the ODI cricket in February 2018 during the South Africa tour. In that series, Rahane batted at no.4 position and scored 79, 11, 8, 8 and 34 runs respectively. The 79 runs innings was his fifth consecutive ODI half-century.
After that series, Rahane has never got another opportunity in ODI cricket. However, the right-handed batsman was consistent in the limited-overs cricket for India A and domestic sides.
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In last February, the chief selector MSK Prasad had claimed that Rahane was in the World Cup contention. But, ultimately, Rahane missed out the Indian squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales. He was not even in the World Cup stand-by squad.
Recently, Rahane has revealed his feeling after missing out the World Cup squad.
Rahane told India Today, “Personally, everyone dreams to be part of World Cup squad. Mine was also the same. You tend to get disappointed when you don’t make the World Cup team but it’s important to move on.”
I am focussing on taking everything on a positive note and moving on – Ajinkya Rahane
After missing out the World Cup squad, Rahane made his English County Cricket debut where he served for Hampshire. In his County debut, Rahane hit a century. Later, he scored another half-century in the County Championship Divison One 2019 competition. In that competition, the right-handed batsman scored 307 runs in 13 innings with an average of 23.61.
Though he wasn’t consistent in that tournament, Rahane has claimed that he learnt a lot from that experience. He feels that it is the starting period of his next World Cup preparation.
Rahane added, “When I played 2 months in county cricket, I learnt a lot. Yes, it was a dream to be part of the World Cup team. But, I am focussing on taking everything on a positive note and moving on. I feel I am starting my preparations for the next World Cup from now itself.”
In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Ajinkya Rahane played as the no.4 batsman. He scored 208 runs in seven innings (average 34.66) in that tournament.
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In the ongoing Caribbean tour, Rahane is in the Test squad where he is also playing the vice-captain role. He is now eyeing for the next challenges.
Rahane said, “After the World Cup also, there is life, there are challenges. There is World Test Championships. I am focussed on contributing to the team and taking the team forward.
“Whenever an opportunity comes to play ODI and T20I cricket, I will work hard and make it count. I am actually lucky that people are noticing that I am good enough to play the limited-overs formats as well.”
Ajinkya Rahane has played 56 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is where he has scored 3,488 runs (average 40.55), 2,962 runs (average 35.26) and 375 runs (average 20.83) respectively.