India’s vice-captain of the Test side, Ajinkya Rahane feels that he should have played at number four position in India’s 2019 World Cup side. Rahane played his last one-day international in the South Africa tour of 2017-18. He has been overlooked in the limited over’s side, since.
“I was actually thinking I will be there in the World Cup batting at No. 4, but it is gone now,” Rahane said at a virtual press conference. You cannot think too much about it. My goal, my aim, is to come back into the ODI team, do well in white-ball cricket which I am really confident about.” Rahane said.
“I don’t think too much about it [the World Cup], [but] yes, especially when I was playing county cricket when World Cup was happening…as a player everyone wants to be a part of the World Cup team, especially when you know you have worked really hard, your record in the past was really good.” He added.
Rahane was in a good form with the bat before getting dropped from the ODI side. For him, getting excluded from the side was shocking. Nevertheless, he has been practising hard and aiming to get his place back in India’s ODI side.
“I am hopeful of making a comeback in white-ball cricket. If you see my record before getting dropped in ODIs, it was really good actually. People talk about strike rate and averages. Before getting dropped from 50-over cricket, it was really good. I have faith in myself rather than what people are saying,” said Rahane, in a Zoom call from Dubai.
Ajinkya Rahane will be seen playing for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming edition of IPL 2020. However, with explosive openers such Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw in the side, it would be tough for him to open the innings for the side. While Rahane has expressed his desire to open the innings but if the team wants him to bat any other number, he would love to take up the challenge.
“If there is a situation where I have to bat at No. 5 and 6, I will do it. That way I can explore a new aspect about my game. Once the role is clear it will help. You need at least need five to six sessions to settle in depending on where in the batting order you are.”
