WI vs IND 2019: Coach Reveals the Secret Behind Ajinkya Rahane Regaining His Form

Ajinkya Rahane, the stalwart of Indian Test Cricket, has finally found his form with the first Test against West Indies in Antigua. Having scored a century, he looked above and raised his bat towards the dressing room. His gesture certainly showed how the ton was important for him as it came after nearly two years. During this time, he had played 18 tests and scored six half-centuries.

In the first Test against Windies, India were struggling at 25 for three in the first session as Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli fell very cheaply. Ajinkya Rahane came into bat at number 5 and did what he is known for throughout his Test career, showing immense temperament, built partnerships with KL Rahul and Hanuma Vihari and took his side to a safe total.

In the second innings, Rahane walked into bat when India were 81/3 and once again showed his class. He scored a century and silenced his critics. He was dropped from the squad for the first two tests last year against South Africa. Although he returned with a fighting 48 in the final Test, his poor form saw him axed from the ODI and T20I squad. His rough patches continued as he failed to perform against Sri Lanka at home.

However, his coach Pravin Amre, said ‘six-months of hard work’ helped Rahane achieved what he was looking for.

“I always believed he has got an important role to play in India’s batting unit. When Pujara and Virat are back in the pavilion, you need a player who has technique and temperament to blunt the opponents, and Ajinkya perfectly fits that role. Also, the team management has always backed him,” he said on Monday.

“For any batsman getting to the three-figure mark is great but in the end it’s just a number. Over the last one-and-half-years his contribution was always there. We were always confident a 100 was around the corner,” he further added.

However, Rahane’s work ethic and willingness to rectify the wrong things as well as spend long hours in the nets impressed his coach Amre.

“He wasn’t picked for the World Cup, also lost his Rajasthan Royals’ captaincy, so many things have gone against him but he still managed to keep his cool. Throughout he kept working on his game. What I liked was the way he prepared. He went to play County; he got some runs but the struggle was (against) their Duke’s ball; but he got through that grind. He came back and practiced at NCA,” he shared.

Amre has rated the 81 in the first innings higher than the hundred as the situation was more critical then. However, Rahane needs to be consistent with the bat in future as well.

“When you achieve something, you have to look to repeat that performance. He also needs to express his feelings. He shouldn’t be an introvert because that hurts sometimes. He should put forward his views,” added the coach.