Praveen Amre, coach of Ajinkya Rahane revealed that his student had promised a special knock as a gift for his 50th birthday. Amre celebrated his age half-century on Tuesday, 14 August.
However, when Rahane asked his coach for a birthday present, Amre revealed that he had asked for a special knock. In fact, Ajinkya Rahane was successfully able to deliver the gift as he scored a fine 81 in the first innings of the ongoing third Test.
Ajinkya Rahane was finally able to find his form.
Meanwhile, Rahane had looked out of sorts in the recent past. However, he was back at his best as he played some delightful strokes. Indian deputy put together an important partnership of 159 runs with Virat Kohli.
“I must tell you a small story in the lead-up to the third Test. I just celebrated my 50th birthday on Tuesday and when he asked me, I said I want to see him raise his bat to the dressing room and that would be my best birthday gift”.
Amre revealed that he was over cloud nine when Rahane completed his fifty. Rahane was able to find his lost touch and his knock would have given a shot in the arm to the team.
“I cannot tell you how happy I was at the moment when he reached his fifty and raised his bat towards the dressing room. Yes, he could have converted the 81 into a three-figure score, but it was a good catch that saw him getting out. For me, it was the flawlessness of the innings that stands out,” Praveen told Hindustan Times.
All about Mental Aspect.
Rahane’s coach further went on to add that it was all about the mental aspect of the game. Rahane was able to put aside his previous ghost and batted like the way we are used to watching him.
“After 47 Test matches, he doesn’t need to be told how to bat. At this level, things are all about adapting and fighting a mental battle when the chips are down. If you can be mentally tough, you can come out of the situation a winner. While the world is cruel and pundits are expected to be critical when you don’t perform at the expected level, it is the job of the coach to show the player how he can improve”.
Ajinkya Rahane was at the top of the game as he came out with a fighting inning.