Winning The Dharamsala Test Was A Dream Come True – Ajinkya Rahane

Jul 15, 2017 at 10:11 AM

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Winning The Dharamsala Test Was A Dream Come True – Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane was asked to make his captaincy debut at the worst possible time. Australia was giving India a run for their money in this year’s Border-Gavaskar series and the hosts had to play the series-decider without their regular skipper Virat Kohli. However, four days after he donned the captain’s hat in Dharamsala, the Mumbai batsman became the toast of the nation, guiding the team to a thumping eight-wicket win.

The unforgettable moment in Dharamsala, according to Rahane, not only boosted his confidence as a captain but also as a batsman and a human being.

“That was a great moment to win the Dharmashala Test as captain of India against Australia. It was a dream come true. Unfortunately, Virat wasn’t playing. We went on to win. I will always cherish that. It gave me more confidence as a batsman, captain and human being,” he told India Today.

Rahane admitted that he has become more confident as a batsman which was on full display during the recently-concluded ODI series in West Indies. After a fruitful outing in the IPL, the batsman did not get a chance to play in the Champions Trophy but proved his mettle with a brilliant show in the Caribbeans, scoring three half-centuries and a century to help India win the five-match series 3-1.

READ MORE: (The West Indies Series Will Give Me A Lot Of Confidence For Shorter Format – Ajinkya Rahane)

Image credits: AFP

“Yes, I am a more confident player now with greater self-belief. At the highest level, how strong you are mentally that matters. But I always stick to the process, I am confident but not overconfident,” he added.

WATCH: (Ajinkya Rahane Ends Gautam Gambhir’s Innings With Brilliant Catch On Boundary Rope)

While Rahane has done really well as an opener in the IPL, he has failed to score at a good pace in ODIs on a majority of the occasions which has led many to believe that he is a defensive player. However, the right-handed batsman considers himself an attacking player and said that the situation forces him to adopt a cautious approach.

“I am naturally an attacking and instinctive player. But at times one has to adapt and grind. In England, we had good wickets. In West Indies, you had tennis ball bounce and it was slower. One has to take time and grab opportunities. In West Indies, I remember the first match in Trinidad gave me the confidence to score quickly in the second where I was batting with complete freedom. I knew the wickets better. It is a mental switch one needs to make,” said the 29-year old.

India’s next assignment is the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka and while the number one-ranked Test side in the world will enter the series as firm favourites, Rahane insisted the team would not take the opposition lightly.

“We want to win every series and every match. But look we don’t want to take Sri Lanka lightly. They are a good side. The last time we had a series there, we made a great comeback. We have the experience now but we will have to start from scratch and build from the start. One has to respect the opposition and it’s all about how we play to potential and strength,” he said.

Also Read: (India picks 16-member squad for Sri Lanka Tests)

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