India batters must be proactive in SL: Rahane
Former skipper Ajinkya Rahane advised the Indian batters to be “proactive” against Sri Lankan spinners in the upcoming two-match Test series, beginning at Galle from August 15.
Rahane had played a stellar role in India’s 3-0 series sweep during the 2017 tour to the Island nation, scoring over 200 runs with a hundred and a fifty.
“I think in Sri Lanka, the first day wicket generally is very good. But being top of the bowler as a batsman is very important. That’s what I have learned in Sri Lanka. You cannot be too defensive,” Rahane, who recently announced his retirement, told PTI in an interview facilitated by ETPL.
Rahane said the presence of quality spinners in the Sri Lanka line-up makes it imperative for Indian batters to be in their dominant self.
“You have to probably be more proactive because they will have spin-friendly wickets, and Sri Lanka do have decent spinners in their side. And again, a home team is always a tough team to beat. Whatever I’ve learned playing cricket for so many years, you can’t take anyone for lightly.
“So it’s all about, I think, having your own game plan as an individual and being proactive. Even in Test cricket, it’s going to be the key,” he added.
Rahane, once an all-format player for India, said the batting dynamics of Test cricket have changed completely in recent years, especially with the T20 format gaining more popularity.
“The game has evolved massively. Talking about Test cricket, you see now a lot many T20 players do play in Test cricket as well. The scoop, the laps, switch hit, reverse sweep are being played and that too consistently. I think it is a very good thing,” he said.
For Rahane, adaptation holds key in modern-day cricket.
“The players need to adapt to different formats very quickly because that’s the mindset you want now.
As soon as the Test gets over, probably within a week, you’re playing T20, you’re playing ODIs or after T20, you are straight away going into Test cricket.
“So having that mindset, the adaptability is really, really important. So in the last two, three years, the game has gone up immensely,” he noted.
Similarly, Rahane also noted an improvisational streak in bowlers to keep up with the competition.
“We have seen several variations in bowling, as we have seen seam-up and wobble seam probably. Bowlers are now probably looking to bowl yorkers in Test cricket as well. Previously, we have not seen fast bowlers bowling yorkers that regularly in Test cricket, except a few bowlers.
“But now, that’s the demand and probably the variation everyone wants. And still as a cricketer, you have to keep on evolving skill-wise every single time,” he added.
He might have retired from top-flight cricket, but it has not doused his desire to contribute to the game that gave him so much.
“I still have a few years. I still want to play cricket. I don’t want to put any number, but I can still play cricket for, you know, how much a year I want because I try to keep myself really fit and that’s what I have learned over the years. It helps you a lot,” he said.
“And that’s why I’m playing this league (ETPL). But again, mentoring any IPL team, I feel I’ll be really good at it because the experience I have, I understand players’ mentality really well.”
The 38-year-old was not averse to the idea of mentoring a team as well.
“I understand individual players really well. What happens in their mind on and off the field? What do they think? How do they react to certain situations and conditions? Because personally, I have seen all those moments. I have seen all those situations.
“So I feel I’ll be really good as a mentor, probably as a coach as well, because you need to coach and a mentor, you need to manage people really well. And I’m really good at it.”
Rahane said being a mentor or coach also gives him an opportunity to learn a lot of things.
“I’m still passionate about the game. I still want to contribute. I still want to probably give more to the game because whatever game has given me, I don’t want to keep it in a smaller way.
“Probably if I can share my experience and the knowledge globally, widely, it will be really beneficial.
“Be it for the senior Mumbai team or for the Indian team, I’ve played with a lot of youngsters, sharing my experience with them. It’s been amazing. And while sharing your experience, you also learn a lot,” he signed off.
Ajinkya Rahane joins Amsterdam Flames in ETPL
Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane on Friday joined Amsterdam Flames as a marquee player in the inaugural European T20 Premier League, hoping to make a global impact through the opportunity that came to him the day he announced his international retirement.
The tournament is scheduled to be played between August 26 and September 20 across Dublin, Ireland, and The Hague, Netherlands.
“It’s a great opportunity for me. When I announced my retirement...I think the same day this opportunity came up. I took a day to probably think through it. (Flames co-owner) Steve (Waugh), personally, called me and asked me if I’m interested in playing for his team,” Rahane, who retired late last month, told PTI in an interview facilitated by ETPL.
“The amount of experience I have, the amount of cricket I have played for so many years with a certain attitude, certain mindset, I thought it’s a great opportunity for me to go out there, probably create an impact globally.
“Share my experience with other players. So I’m really looking forward to this stint with the ETPL,” the 38-year-old Mumbaikar added.
Rahane was enthusiastic about the growth prospects of the league, which he believed will help the continent to move forward in its cricketing growth.
“See, if you see European teams, you see Ireland, you see Netherlands...and Ireland recently won the series against India. Netherlands, again, on and off, they’ve been doing really well.
“I played many matches with them, obviously, the World Cup games. The passion which they have for cricket is amazing; their hunger to learn, hunger to get better as a team is amazing,” he detailed.
Rahane pinned his argument on the chances that less experienced European players will get to play along with some marquee names like Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh or pick the brains of someone like Rahul Dravid.
“This (ETPL) gives them that exposure to play with different players, play with international players. When you play with international players, individually, they learn a lot. That’s why I said, this is a great platform for them.
“And I’m personally really looking forward to going out there, sharing my experience and creating that impact,” he said.
Franchise-based T20 leagues have been mushrooming across the world quite regularly. How can ETPL find space for itself in this bustling market? Rahane said the market is big enough to accommodate another one.
“I have seen that single time Ireland or Netherlands turn up, they improve as a team. They improve as a unit and are willing to learn further. So I think this is a great market, a great opportunity for the European players to showcase their talent,” he said.
“You know, probably some of them, if they do really well, the ETPL scouts are here as well. They watch all the foreign players. So it’s an opportunity for the players to play with freedom and with that mindset, you never know which door will open for the players. So yes, it is a great start,” said the Mumbaikar.
Rahane also felt that the presence of familiar stars from yesteryears like Dravid, Waugh and Matthew Hayden will help the ETPL to connect with a wider net of audience.
Waugh, Co-Founder and Chief Cricket Officer of the Flames, said: “Rahane represents everything you want in a professional cricketer — skill, resilience, humility and leadership. Throughout his career he has earned enormous respect across the cricket world, not only for his performances but for the way he has conducted himself on and off the field.
“I’ve seen first-hand the composure and leadership he brings under pressure, and those qualities help shape winning cultures. His experience, leadership and character will be invaluable as we build Amsterdam Flames into one of Europe’s premier cricket clubs.”
Tim Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Amsterdam Flames, said Rahane’s arrival was a defining moment.
“This is about much more than adding an outstanding cricketer; it is about establishing the standards, culture and ambition that will define our club for years to come,” said Thomas.
