In India, cricketers are not respected. But they are worshipped. It is a nation, where cricketers are given the status of a Demi God. The Indians are deeply devoted to their cricketers and have also made temples in the names of the cricketers.
There is a significant reason behind this immense love for their cricketers. The likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman, or the “Fab 4” of Indian cricket have bestowed the team with honour and love. These four legends have taken Indian cricket to the pinnacle of success.
While these players were busy sweating it out on the cricket field, there was a shy young kid, travelling daily in the ever crowded local trains of Mumbai. Travelling from the central suburbs to the heart of the city in a jam packed train in peak hours, and that too while carrying a kit of atleast 10 pounds on his little shoulders. The degree of dedication and passion cannot get any higher than this. This was the anecdote of none other than Ajinkya Rahane, the ever shining star of Indian cricket.
Rahane has the resilience of Dravid; style of Sachin and the elegance of Laxman. The Mumbai batsman is an ocean of calm and serenity. While watching him bat, the viewers often get mesmerized and slip into a world of sheer unadulterated class.
Rahane is an asset to the Indian side not only because of his ever glittering class, but mainly due to his appetite for runs in test matches. The 26-year old batsman made his debut for India in England and impressed in the very first series. His debut T20 knock provided a glimpse of his grace. He was often in and out of the team as the likes of Sehwag and Gambhir were still in the first choice XI. He had to wait for his chance.
Finally, the big day arrived in Rahane’s life. It was the day when he made his test debut against Australia at Delhi. The Delhi pitch was a nightmare for any batsman. On the first day itself, it showed evidences of a day-5 worn and torn pitch. Ajinkya, could only manage 8 runs in the match.
But, his talent got the perfect opportunity in Durban against South Africa. Against the likes of Steyn, Philander and Morkel, Rahane stood like a stern rock, and in the second innings of the second test scored a fine knock of 96. He was highly unfortunate to miss the ton. But scoring 96, on the fifth day against world class bowlers away from home is a gigantic feat in itself.
His honeymoon period with the bat continued in New Zealand, where at the Basin Reserve he finally got a well deserved maiden test ton. He got there at a quick rate as well. It is a batsman’s dream, to have his name placed at the honors board of the Lords cricket stadium as it is the Mecca of cricket and on a green field like surface, Rahane battled with utter ease against Anderson and Broad to notch up another ton. That was a stellar show indeed.
A ton at the Lords was followed by a rapid ton at another iconic overseas ground. This time, the MCG! Rahane, joined skipper Virat Kohli, and the two simply mauled the Aussie bowlers in their own backyard. Rahane’s knock of 147 at the MCG was as good as it can get. His test stats paint a very promising portrait of young Rahane.
In just 14 tests, Rahane has three tons, at an average of 44.87. And yes, 13 out of these 14 tests have been outside the subcontinent!
Rahane was decent in the World Cup as well. His innings against South Africa in the middle overs against a top class bowling attack was a first-rate show of batsmanship. But, one has to credit the Indian Premier League for Rahane’s maturity as a cricketer.
It was in the IPL that he made he first got the opportunity to share the dressing room with the legends of the game. He has been a regular opener for the Rajasthan Royals since 2012. In 2012, people saw a unique Rahane. For the first time did people realize that T20 cricket even had a sense of class to it, rather than pure slogging.
In the 2012 edition, Rahane amassed 560 runs, at an average of 40. He made a brilliant ton as well against the Royal Challengers in Bangalore. Opening with Rahul Dravid at the top was the icing on the cake for him. Batting alongside the great Rahul Dravid educated him to a colossal extent and his love for batting amplified because of that. Rahane’s contribution in the IPL needs no words. Whenever he comes to bat for the Royals, people get glued to their TV screens, as missing Rahane’s batting is like missing a display of modishness.
In the ongoing IPL so far, the right hander tops the charts for the run getters by an absolute mile. 305 runs in six innings at an average of 61 is simply phenomenal to say the least. These stats are great even in ODI matches, while this is just T20 cricket. This edition of the IPL has provided a very optimistic image for the Indians.
Ever since Yuvraj Singh lost his magical touch, the Indian side has been in desperate need of a sturdy number four. Suresh Raina was given a few games but could do no wonders. A few others were tested here and there as well. But in Ajinkya Rahane, we have a perfect number four batsman in ODIs. He can surely build up on the current IPL form, and carry it in international games as well.
As of now, the signs of Rahane succeeding in the ODIs look promising indeed. This ongoing edition of the IPL might have well done wonders for this little genius. Scripting the IPL form into the international form will be the key for Rahane. If he succeeds in doing that, then Indian cricket is headed in the best possible direction in their quest to find the perfect answer for stability in the Indian batting lineup.