Ajinkya Rahane of India stated that although some years back he was playing the anchor role while others played around him, he has changed to play with freedom in the last two or three years. Rahane topped the batting charts in the last edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 469 runs, including five fifties, at a strike rate of 164.56.
The aggressive approach taken by Rahane ideally shaped his batting style in the Indian Premier League, in the last two editions for the Chennai Super Kings.
“It used to be me being the anchor, and everyone else would play around me. For the last 2-3 years, it’s always been about fearlessly expressing myself and going out there and backing my game,” Rahane said at an event in Mumbai. “I always try to do that, but it’s about me following processes and routines, staying loyal and honest to the game,” he added.
The star India batter, who led Mumbai into the Ranji Trophy semifinals and scored 467 runs, said he would take that confidence from domestic cricket into the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. “From the batting point of view, I have done well, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has been very good for me. That is the reason I have confidence in my game,” said Rahane.
“It is just a matter of living in the moment, staying calm, and always backing myself, not thinking too far ahead or back. It has always been about how much I can improve and enjoy my game,” Rahane added.
The star India batter said that India’s win against Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday could be attributed to the team not dwelling on the past record against Australia in the knockouts of ICC tournaments as well.
Before Rohit Sharma’s team won the game by four wickets, India had never defeated Australia in the knockouts of ICC tournaments since the quarterfinal of the 2011 World Cup in India.
India had been defeated by Australia in the semifinals of the 2015 ODI World Cup, the final of the 2023 World Cup, and the final of the 2023 World Test Championship.
