×

Ajinkya Rahane: I want to become India’s biggest-ever match winner

I focus on what my team needs from me, Ajinkya Rahane said.

Ajinkya Rahane focuses on what the team needs from him © Getty Images
Ajinkya Rahane focuses on what the team needs from him © Getty Images

Ajinkya Rahane has admitted his dreams of becoming not only world’s best batsman but also India’s biggest-ever match- winner across all the formats of cricket. Unlike most of the cricketers who dream about being the next Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid or VVS Laxman, Rahane has other ideas set for him and he has a philosophy planned that will help him bring his goals into effect without putting him under too much pressure. The top-order batsman stressed on the positivity that is required while playing as he said, “If you think negatively, negative things will happen. Our thoughts are very powerful. It’s important what kind of thoughts you have, how you control them. I focus on what my team needs from me. And when you do well, going out of your comfort zone, that challenge gives me great happiness.” And thus this is the reason behind him accepting to bat wherever the captain asks him to: either No. 5 or No. 3. READ: Ian Chappell praises Ajinkya Rahane for growing as cricketer

The upcoming marathon series against South Africa at home that will last for at least 72 days is a great opportunity for Rahane to replicate his superb Test innings that came previously in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. According to Indian Express, he said, “When I went to South Africa, I was in a very positive frame of mind, and was actually very confident about myself. The Test cap, home crowd and my desire to do make that opportunity count is making me too anxious. There is always nervousness in a sportsman, and especially more so before the first Test but in my desire to do well, I had let the anxiousness levels go far too high.”

Recently, the Mumbai batsman received heaps of praises from none other than Dravid himself as the latter said, “Rahane is probably the best Indian batsman on the basis of getting runs. All that is important is balance and adjustment. I have seen him improve in all these years at Rajasthan Royals (RR). Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand, he has shown his batting skills ever where in a small span of time. And that shows how quickly he has been adapting different formats and conditions”. READ: Rahul Dravid: Ajinkya Rahane is Indian cricket team’s best batsman

trending this week