Ajinkya Rahane: ‘People say I need to be in the news … I don’t have a PR team, my PR is my cricket’

EXCERPTS:

At 36, what has changed for Ajinkya Rahane?

Obviously, I’m more experienced, but still feel young. I’m fit enough to compete at the highest level. I am passionate and love this game. There is hunger to do well. I never get satisfied with my game and don’t take things for granted. The fire is still burning inside me to play at the highest level. I feel there’s more cricket left in me.

Were you an introvert from the beginning and regret now that you didn’t speak up at some point?

I was always shy, now I have opened up. My focus has been to play cricket and go home. Nobody told me that going ahead, certain things will be needed. Today also, sometimes I feel ki bus cricket khelo, ghar jao. Now I am told I need to speak up, talk about my hard work. People say you need to be in the news … I don’t have a PR team, my only PR is my cricket. I have now realised that staying in the news is important. Otherwise, people think that I’m out of the circle.

What is driving you despite no response from selectors?

Test cricket. There is still fire and passion in me. I’m playing Ranji Trophy at the moment, trying to give my all to the Mumbai team. The goal is clear to make another comeback. When I was dropped a few years ago, I made runs and was picked for the World Test Championship final and then was dropped again. But what is in my control? To play.

Ajinkya Rahane was the top scorer for India with a total of 135 runs in the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval in 2023. (AP)

Didn’t you get hurt with the snub?

I did well in domestic cricket and in the IPL, and was called again. Whenever an experienced player makes a comeback, one knows that he will get 2-3 series. I knew that South Africa was a challenging series and I was expecting a call, but I wasn’t picked. I felt bad because I have been serving for so long.

Don’t you think that with your talent, you could have done more? (Cheteshwar) Pujara had a terrific Australia tour, but in your case, there have been few such innings?

The number which I used to bat, whatever contributions I made were crucial. Post Covid, there has been a drastic drop in batting averages of everyone because of the kind of pitches we played on. Only the top order has the advantage on such tracks. I am not giving excuses. I don’t have any regrets because I know whenever the team wanted me to deliver, I did. Contributions are not necessarily in the form of big hundreds, it could be a 70, 80 or 50.

But there have not been many big innings of late?

That’s the sad part. For me, it’s not about the runs, it’s about the contribution. As a batsman, one wants to score big runs but don’t forget the conditions one is playing in. I’m not the one who will go and scream, criticise pitches, because every team has a strategy and that’s how pitches are being prepared. But the reality is that the averages have gone down for top players too. It’s not only us but globally, everyone has struggled. This is the reality about which we don’t talk in public.

Did you speak to the selectors?

I’m not the person who will go and ask why I’m being dropped. There was no communication. Many said ‘go and talk’ but one can only talk when the other person is ready to talk. If he is not ready, there is no point fighting. I wanted to talk one on one. I never messaged. I felt odd when I was dropped after the WTC final because I had worked hard for it. I thought I would be there for the next series. There is no point cribbing. I can only do what is in my hands. There is a belief that I will make a comeback.

Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane. (Agencies)

You had a terrific Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy?

I was very happy with it. I was moving well. My fitness was good. I improved my shots.

Did you ever imagine that post the Border-Gavaskar Trophy win under your captaincy, your career will be bumpy?

When I came back after BGT, I knew that I was captain for that period only and will be back to being vice-captain. There was no thought that ahead there would be a bumpy ride.

Did you get the credit you deserve?

Maybe. We won because of a team and not because I was captain. There could be one decision which I made that went right, but it was a team effort.

Many players use social media to build a narrative, but you didn’t use it?

I never thought of it. I always think that every action will have its reaction. My friends said I should be in the media, keep talking to them as the team won under you, but I feel joh hona hai woh hoga.

Was it tough to watch the BGT on TV this time?

Yes. Previously, I was dropped despite doing well. So somewhere I feel I can still serve the Indian team. Cricket is still left in me.

Mumbai’s Ajinkya Rahane (left) being greeted by teammates at the dugout as he walks off the field after his dismissal during the first semi-final T20 cricket match of the SMAT between Baroda and Mumbai, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru. (PTI)

But it looks like Indian cricket has moved on?

If you ask me, I can still give my best and my intentions are good. For me, it’s all about the country.

Why didn’t you take the offer to be an expert during BGT?

I got an offer to become an expert. It was easy and good money but within me, a person is saying I still can (play). Getting picked or not is not in my hands. Down the line, I don’t want a situation where I feel that yeh expert assignment mein baad mein bhi le sakta tha. I could have given one last push.

Do people tell you that you should have been there in the Test side?

Yes. Be it airport, hotel, security check, ground, county cricket, everywhere I have gone, they all said Ajju bhai, aapko team mein hona chahiye. It feels nice. It motivates me to give it a try, at least I would have given my best in the last few years of my career.

How do you want people to remember?

He was special and a warrior, who never gave up.

Do you think that we give too much importance to age when it comes to selection?

As a batsman, one can play till 40. There are players who have played till the age of 39-40. What matters is fitness. We need more experienced players, plus a few youngsters, in the team. So that they can learn. We grew by watching seniors and all of them played till 39-40. When we got an opportunity, we did well. Hunger is key, and the right attitude.

Maharashtra cabinet on Monday decided to allot a 2,000-square metre plot in Bandra East to cricketer Ajinkya Rahane for setting up a well-equipped sports facility. (X/
Leicestershire CCC)

How has the dressing-room environment changed?

When I came into the team, I learnt by watching seniors. I was benched for around two years. There was hardly any time when I got to bat at the nets. Now every member gets a chance to bat at the nets, but in my early days, only those who were playing used to get a chance. I used to visualise watching them. We can’t go and ask for batting practice. Now things have changed. One used to get batting after five days. We were lucky that (VVS) Laxman, Rahul (Dravid) and Sachin (Tendulkar) bhai were around. The only thing they used to tell us was to be humble. Whatever you are doing, first ask yourself, is it necessary? If yes, do it. All three were the same in terms of thinking.

You value money a lot, don’t spend unnecessarily?

I used to come from Dombivali, the train journey was the most challenging for me and I used to travel alone from the age of 8 because my father had to go to office. I come from a lower- middle-class family. My mother used to babysit to earn extra money because my father’s salary wasn’t enough to make ends meet. Those memories are in my mind and that is why I try to be grounded. This fame and money has come only due to this game.

Do you advise younger players?

I don’t like to go into their personal space but as a leader, if I feel I need to tell them anything, I will. I have seen players with talent but wrong choices and wrong friends took them astray. It’s important not to forget where we all come from. Many times when a player is having a great run, you see people with them. Suddenly, if things go wrong, the same people vanish. So it is important to know who your true friends are.

Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane acknowledging the crowd in Patna’s Moin-ul-Haq Stadium. (Pic: Special Arrangement)

Didn’t you ever get carried away with money coming in?

I never have. I knew this money was coming because of my cricket. This is where my family values came in. They never said don’t spend, but they only said if it’s needed, do it. I bought a car very late in my life, I used to take a lift from Nilesh Kulkarni, Avishkar Salvi or Pravin Tambe. I bought a second-hand WagonR when I played for India. People said bada car le but for me it was about travelling in comfort. I wanted to invest wisely. After two years, I bought a Honda City.

Sanjay Manjrekar once said it is depressing to play domestic cricket once one has played international cricket?

I don’t think so. At least, I’m playing cricket. My attitude is the same once I cross the rope, be it for a franchise, Mumbai or for India. Mumbai has given me everything and it’s my duty.