WTC Final: Leading-scorer Ajinkya Rahane wants to play ‘freely’ in one-off game

Ajinkya Rahane feels that even if he scores 40 and it proves to be useful for the team’s cause, he is more than happy.

Ajinkya Rahane is the leading run-scorer for India in the World Test Championships so far. (Source: Twitter)

Ajinkya Rahane doesn’t mind a bit of ‘criticism’ but has never been too overtly bothered by what people think about his game as he goes on with his job of winning Test matches for the Indian cricket team. Despite his blow-hot-blow-cold form over the last few years, India's Test vice-captain with 1,095 runs in 17 games is team’s top scorer in the two-year World Test Championship cycle leading to the final against New Zealand.

“It feels special,” Rahane said about emerging as the top scorer.

But what about the flak that he has faced because of poor run of scores? “I’m happy to take criticism. I feel it’s because of the criticism I’m here. I always want to give my best whether people criticise me or not.

“For me, it’s important to give my best for my country and contribute each and every time be it as a batsman or a fielder,” Rahane, who played a massive role as skipper during epic series against Australia, said.

Having played Test cricket for more than eight years, Rahane knows that public opinion is fickle and at best left alone with focus on controllables. “I don’t really think about criticism. If people criticise me, that’s their thing, and that’s their job. I cannot control all these things. For me, I always focus on controllables, putting my best foot forward, working hard and following my process and the result follows.”

Rahane feels that even if he scores 40 and it proves to be useful for the team’s cause, he is more than happy. “I will be playing my natural game. Winning is really important whether I score hundred or not. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself and even if my 30 or 40 is valuable for the team, I am happy.”

We are excited to play the #WTC21 Final. #TeamIndia vice-captain @ajinkyarahane88 speaks about the mood in the camp ahead of the summit clash against New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/WdvezBPgOQ — BCCI (@BCCI) June 16, 2021

The Indian vice-captain in 2019 had played for the Hampshire county and has a better idea about the ground where he has also played two Tests in 2014 and 18, both of which the visitors lost.

“I like to be in the present. I know the conditions. It’s about being in the moment, adjusting to the conditions. Also me being the highest scorer doesn’t matter now. It’s past. I just don’t want to put extra pressure and would want to play freely,” said Rahane, who has three hundreds and six fifties in this inaugural cycle of WTC.

For Rahane, the WTC final is just another game and his mental make-up is such that he is not thinking of it as the biggest event. “It’s just a mental thing. If we can switch mentally and adapt, it’s important. Yes one off, we have to take it as another game not as a final or anything. We just want to give our best, play good cricket, be consistent in the five days.”

The likes of Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill will be playing the biggest match of their short careers but Rahane feels it is better let them play their fearless brand of cricket with an uncluttered mind.

“Personally, I am not telling them anything. They know their game-plan. It’s about giving them freedom, backing them, believing in their abilities. We don’t want any kind of confusion.”

As it has been with Rahane over the umpteen media interactions, he dead-batted questions on team combination giving away virtually nothing. “We are yet to decide about our combination. We still have two practice sessions left.”

While signing off, he did admit that in order to win the World Test Championship, batters will have to take up additional responsibility. “Batters play a key role in England. The bowlers get a lot of help over here and we have a big responsibility. Everyone has a different game-plan. It's about backing your game-plan. We will take up the responsibility as batting unit and try to achieve the team’s goal.”

(with PTI inputs)