Know Your Player – Ajinkya Rahane
Cricketing milestones, rise through the ranks, trials and tribulations and their glamorous lifestyles – we cover it all in ‘Know Your Player’, a brand-new section aimed at keeping you updated with everything you need to know! In this edition, we take a look at India’s Test vice-captain and a technically robust batsman, Ajinkya Rahane. Keep watching this space for a new superstar every time!
The Rise
At the age of seven, Ajinkya Rahane joined a small coaching camp with a matting wicket in Dombivli. Apart from this, Rahane used to play on dusty pitches in his native place which solidified his batting technique. From the age of 17, he took coaching from the former India batsman Pravin Amre.
Rahane had performed well when India U-19 toured New Zealand in early 2007, with two centuries. The scores in New Zealand impressed the first-class selectors and they picked him for the Mohammad Nissar Trophy in Pakistan. Thus, Rahane made his debut for Mumbai in Karachi. He scored 143 on his debut which further paved the way for his Irani Trophy selection.
In his second Ranji season (2008–09), Rahane amassed 1089 runs as Mumbai clinched their 38th Ranji Trophy title. He continued to impress in domestic cricket. The right-hander surpassed 1000 runs in three separate seasons, and scoring 152 in the 2011 Irani Trophy match against Rajasthan helped him get selected for India’s Test squad.
IPL exploits
Rahane is part of an elite list of batsmen who have scored two IPL centuries. He announced himself with a knock of unbeaten 103 runs for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2012. He amassed 560 runs in 16 matches in that particular season and it remains his best IPL performance to date. Rahane hit his second IPL ton in 2020 for the same franchise. He is currently a part of the Delhi Capitals setup.
Career Highlights
Off The Field
Rahane comes across as a very studious and humble follower of the game. Measured in his approach, the Mumbai batsman has stayed away from unnecessary controversies. He is a fitness freak and also spends a lot of his time reading. Coming from a farming background, Rahane has always stepped up in their support and does a lot of charity work.
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