New Delhi: India batter Ajinkya Rahane expressed his fondness for challenging situations at the crease, noting that many of his runs have come when India faced early wickets and he needed to step up. He credited his success to the rigorous practice of batting on tough pitches during his formative years at Wankhede Stadium, a premier venue in the country known for its bounce.
Rahane has played 85 Tests for India, amassing 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries. His most recent Test appearance was against the West Indies in July 2023, where he managed only eight runs in the lone innings of the match, leading to Shreyas Iyer taking his place in the lineup thereafter.
Eight of Rahane’s 12 Test centuries have been scored away from home, highlighting his significance in overseas conditions. One of his most memorable innings occurred during the second Test against Australia in Melbourne in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he played a crucial role as India trailed 0-1 in the series.
“I love challenges” – @ajinkyarahane88
As we revisit #Rahane‘s iconic 112 in the #ToughestRivalry Melbourne 2020, relive the day as narrated by the man himself, with #TomMoody chiming in to commemorate this incredible knock under pressure!
Who do you think will replicate… pic.twitter.com/WzEZm0Y6UY
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 28, 2024
“Wherever there are challenges, I love it. I have scored runs in those situations when the team was at 30-3, 20-3, or 50-3. From there, the team needs to reach a respectable score, and throughout my life, I’ve delivered my best knocks in these tough situations,” Rahane said while speaking on Star Sports.
“Since my days in U14, I played cricket at the old Wankhede, where the wickets were good and had a solid bounce,” Rahane added.
The India batter is currently captaining Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, where they faced Tripura and posted an impressive 450 runs while batting first. Rahane contributed 35 runs in the first innings. On a batting-friendly pitch in Agartala, Tripura managed to score 302, putting up a commendable effort against the defending champions.
