Technique is Rahane's strength
CHENNAI: It's not that Ajin'kya Rahane is this IPL's longest orange-cap holder that is remarkable but the manner he has bulked up those runs th'at makes him special.
When it's so tempting for a youngster to manufacture a brand of cricket so as to suit a partic'ular format, compromising on'e's instinct, Rahane has st'uck to his basic game.
His in'stinct is to play straight, and he's exceedingly superior at that. If he has the ammo to stockpile 458 runs at an average of 57.25 with a strike rate of 138.36, he possibly needn't to.
When Rahane bats, he tra'n'scends the format itself, for one hardly feels the haste one attributes to the format. It seems composure is compressed into his 1.68-metre frame, for he hardly ever looks frazzled or perturbed.
Even if, though rarely, he struggles to dissect fielders, he maintains his serenity, waits for the right ball to be punish'ed.
In this regard, he is slightly old-wordlish. It's not arrogance that marks his batting but an unrelenting hunger for runs, best manifested by his First Class average of 68.47 in 50 matches.
One might feel Rahane, at 23, hasn't had the best of opportunities at the highest level of the game.
Ironically, for someone wi'th an incredible first-class cr'edentials, he made his international debut in the shortest format. Aware, and perhaps, as he is of opportunities, he ma'de the most of it, striking a fluent 61 off 49 balls.
ODI reckoning followed, but Rahane wouldn't be settl'ed unless he makes a mark in Tests. But creditably, he isn't forcing the issue, for he knows his consistency can't be overlooked eternally.
In fairness, there weren't too many vacan'cies either. 'I don't think mu'ch about selection, my focus is just on the controllable. I just focus on my game and wo'rk hard to improve. I don't have to prove anything, I play cricket because it is my passi'on,' he said.
This modesty is not affected, for he is someone who co'mes across genuine and honest. His work ethics has already seen him being likened to his Rajasthan Royals' skipper Rahul Dravid.
Such comparisons are unwarranted and Rahane kno'ws. As for now, he is enjoying his tutelage under Dravid.
'I have learnt a lot from Dr'a'vid. Even after achieving a high in his career he has never gone out of way, how he co''nducts himself is really gre'at to see,' he said. That he has appeased his mentor goes wi'thout saying.
News Posted: 3 May, 2012
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