Veteran Mumbai batter Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 159 on Day 2, says his kids encourage him to keep playing even as critics are unfair and a return to Team India remains elusive
Mumbai’s Ajinkya Rahane during his 159 on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy tie vs Chhattisgarh at the MCA-BKC ground on Sunday. Pic/Atul Kamble
Out of favour India batter and ex-Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane (159, 21x4), who was unbeaten on 118 against Chhattisgarh on Day One of their Ranji Trophy game, added another 41 to his overnight score, helping his team post 406-8 on a rain-affected Day Two at the MCA-BKC ground on Sunday.
Rahane, 37, who last represented the country against West Indies in the Port of Spain Test in 2023, has scored 5,077 runs from 85 Tests. Though he scored 467 runs in the last Ranji season (including one century), it is learnt that there were whispers about his form and doubts about his place in the Mumbai team. The experienced cricketer, who helped India win the Test series against Australia in difficult conditions Down Under in 2020-21, even lost his Mumbai captaincy ahead of this season. However, his family support is all that matters, says Rahane.
Rising above criticism
“Some people don’t know the game, they don’t know what it takes for an international cricketer, who has played for so many years. I don’t want to name anyone, but I feel my family’s support has been massive. My kids tell me, ‘daddy, you can do it’ and when they support you, nothing else matters,” Rahane told reporters after the day’s play on Sunday.
Rahane, who led Mumbai to their 42nd Ranji Trophy title in 2023-24, insisted that he doesn’t want to focus on outside noise. “I know how good a player I am, so I don’t like to focus on what’s going on outside. There are many unwanted people who don’t know about the game, but they still talk about a player who has been playing consistently with a good attitude and good intensity,” he added.
Focused on controllables
Rahane admitted that he was expecting to get another chance in the national side. “After playing so much cricket, when experienced players like me were dropped, I got a sense that there’s something different. I feel an experienced player like me should get more chances when he makes a comeback, but there was no communication. But I still enjoy my game. I can only focus on the controllables. Whether they select me or not, that’s their call, but I personally feel that the Indian team needed me in Australia, and I was fully ready for it,” said Rahane.
Age is just a number, reckoned Rahane, citing the example of Australia’s Michael Hussey, who made his international debut in his late 30s.
“Age is just a number. If a player has the experience and if he is still playing domestic cricket and giving his best, the selectors should consider him. It’s not about the age, it’s about the intent, it’s about the passion for red-ball cricket and the hard work that you put in the middle. That’s what matters,” Rahane concluded.
Brief scores
Mumbai 406-8 (A Rahane 159, S Lad 80, A Anand 60*, S Mulani 39; A Sarwate 4-103, R Kiran 3-53) vs Chhattisgarh
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