With just five matches left to be played and of course the Indian Premier League, starting from March 23, team India have, perhaps, almost settled upon their core 15 players for the World Cup, however, once India’s formidable middle order player in ODIs, Ajinkya Rahane is still hopeful for the World Cup selection in the wake of some incredible performances in domestic cricket, currently leading Mumbai in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
It feels good that I am being considered. But at the same time, you need to get a chance,” Rahane said. “Playing the World Cup is a dream every cricketer cherishes. I do respect the selectors and team management’s performances, and I think I deserve a chance.”
Rahane, though, wouldn’t be satisfied with his numbers in One-day cricket, scoring 2962 runs in 87 innings at a not-so-impressive average of 35.5, however, in the last three years, he has averaged 41.38 and was at his peak in the year 2017. “As a batsman, I am aggressive but, by nature, I am quite shy,” Rahane told the Hindu. “I prefer to let my bat speak but sometimes it’s important to speak the truth. I have always believed the team comes first and respected the management and the selectors’ decision. I will continue to do that.
That’s the least I am asking.” Rahane asserts that for a player to excel in a certain sport, he must need constant backing from the skipper and the selectors. And in hindsight, even he believes that perhaps the selectors have been harsh on him. “But every individual needs confidence and positive vibes like ‘yes, you are there and you are doing it for the team’. I think everyone knows that if someone is backing you, the player gets the confidence to play fearless and positive cricket.”
Despite that, Rahane cited the need to stay positive in order to stay focused and true to the thing he loves the most. “I am very much hopeful. I keep negative thoughts away and you never know, things can change any time. It’s important to believe in yourself and keep good people around you rather than those who will say ‘yaar yeh tere Saath ki Kyun ho Raha hai [Why is this happening only to me?’] I keep my distance from such people and am comfortable with a closed group of four or five people who have believed in me all along.”
Meanwhile, India has lost a bilateral T-20 series at home after 40 months, losing the series 2-0 against Australia on Thursday. Unarguably, one of the best performances of Glenn Maxwell in T-20 cricket as his heroics helped Australia sweep series 2-0 against India in India. T-20 series is now done and dusted and it’s time for the ODI series as India would like to forget what happened in the past and concentrate what’s ahead of them. Australia, on the other side, would step into the field with high on confidence having won the T-20 series, thanks to a couple of outstanding knocks from Glenn Maxwell.
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