“Conversations with Rahul Bhai also helped me get those answers that I should keep my batting really simple. Take one game at a time. Be in a positive mindset. So now, I am in very good mind space. Whatever happened earlier is gone. Now I have to focus on upcoming things,” Rahane said while talking to PTI.
Ajinkya Rahane Reveals How Rahul Dravid Helped Him Overcome World Cup Snub
Dec 27, 2019 at 12:18 PM
It was not easy to be in the shoes of Ajinkya Rahane when the Indian Test vice-captain could not find a place in the World Cup side. However, Rahane has always had a positive mindset. It was difficult for him to take the World Cup snub in his strides but he knew that he could not help it once it was done. Rahane last played an ODI for the Indian team back in February 2018 and thus there were fewer chances of his World Cup selection.
Ajinkya Rahane has always looked up to former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid as his role model. Consequently, conversations with Dravid helped Rahane in keeping a positive mindset after his World Cup snub. In fact, Rahane had a good run against Australia in 2017 when he scored four consecutive fifties.
Rahane had last played an ODI back in February 2018.
“At times, we get too caught up in our pursuit of success and then we suddenly realize that we are required to just stop, sit back and introspect. I did exactly that when I wasn’t selected for the 2019 World Cup,” he said.
“I am in a very good space right now and it started from the West Indies series. I was in England, playing county cricket where I learned a lot, not only as a cricketer but also as a human being,” he said. “In two months, I played seven games. So it wasn’t always about on-field learnings but also about off-field learning.
Ajinkya Rahane was also able to deliver the goods in the Test series against South Africa and Bangladesh. Rahane will like to come up with solid performances to make a comeback into the ODI side. The right-hander has all the experience under his belt and he would like to make the most of it.