Delhi Capitals assistant coach Pravin Amre heaped praise on Chennai Super Kings’ comeback man Ajinkya Rahane for his brilliant performance for the four-time champions in the league. Following his heroics in IPL, the 34-year-old made a stunning return to the Indian squad for the World Test Championship final against Australia scheduled for June 7.
Ajinkya Rahane has revamped himself in this edition of the Indian Premier League, adding a new dimension to his batting, playing at a high strike rate in the middle order. Pravin Amre, who has coached the Mumbai star for a considerable amount of time, spoke highly regarding Rahane’s work ethic and his hard work to make a comeback into the side.
“We just reminded him how he came into the international arena through T20 (39-ball 61 at Old Trafford, in August 2011). It’s a coincidence that his T20 performance has helped him make a comeback. Hard work always pays, when he was dropped nobody thought he will come back”. Pravin Amre said in Hindustan Times.
The 34-year-old has been off-colour in both IPL and International cricket in the last couple of years and made a stunning comeback to form in the 1st half of the IPL 2023. Speaking on the performance, Amre said that people were surprised to see him hit long balls playing proper cricketing shots.
“He had a very good Ranji season and got a double hundred. We are seeing the new version of Ajinkya, people are really surprised the way he is hitting the ball so long while playing proper cricketing shots,” he stated.
The right-hander hasn’t played a Test for India since January 2022 owing to his poor form. In Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, Rahane scored 634 runs in seven Ranji games for Mumbai in the 2023 season at an average of 57.63 with two centuries and a fifty.
Ajinkya Rahane’s Game Is Built On Timing And He Has Got It – Pravin Amre
Pravin Amre said that Rahane’s game is usually built on timing and proper cricketing shots and feels it important to have a proper technique in the shorter format of the game, as many modern-day batters rely on power-hitting rather than working their technical skills.
“His game is built on timing and he has got it back. Even Dhoni has spoken about his technique. People wrongly say that technique is not important in T20s. I am very happy because as coaches we always insisted on technique, it matters in T20,” Pravin Amre added.
Rahane has been roped in by CSK at his base price of INR 50 lakhs and will look to continue fine form going into the second half of the cash-rich league.