As India begins their new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a two-match series against the West Indies, Rahane is not looking too far into the future. Despite his recent comeback to the side after more than a year away, Rahane was India’s standout batsman in the WTC final against Australia, scoring 89 and 46.
“I’m still young and there’s a lot of cricket left in me. In the last one year or so, I’ve worked a lot on my fitness,” Rahane expressed after rain affected India’s training session for the second consecutive day at Windsor Park.
“There were a few points in my batting that I’ve worked on. I’m enjoying my cricket a lot, enjoying my batting. I’m not thinking too much into the future. Every game is important, personally and also from the team point of view. I’m focusing on just that.”
During his absence from the Test side since February 2022, Rahane persistently worked hard and led his home side in local championship matches. He captained Mumbai in various formats during the 2022-23 domestic season, leading them to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, while also delivering compelling performances with the bat.
In first-class cricket between September 2022 and February this year, Rahane scored 884 runs in 16 innings, including three centuries and a half-century, with an average of 58.93. These numbers demonstrated that he remained in contention for a spot in the team if an opportunity arose.
When India needed experience for the WTC final in the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Rahane was called upon. At that time, he was batting in a manner that few expected from him in the IPL, transitioning from an anchor to an aggressive boundary-hitter.
Rahane emphasized that his role had changed but his approach to the game remained the same. He acknowledged the freedom given to him by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL and stated that he is a stroke-maker who always looks for runs. He is determined to fulfill the role given to him by the team and is focused on that objective.
The WTC final marked Rahane’s first match under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma for India, despite their long-standing association. Rahane and Sharma have played together for Mumbai in the age-group and first-class circuits.
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“The role Rohit gives me, I’ll fulfill that. Playing under Rohit is great,” Rahane expressed. “He gives freedom to the players and then backs them. These are signs of a great captain. I’m feeling good. We share a great equation. I’m used to this role [as vice-captain]. I did the job for almost five years, but I’m really happy to be back in the team. Really happy to be back as vice-captain.”
With his wealth of experience and renewed focus, Rahane is ready to contribute to the team’s success as they embark on the new WTC cycle. His role as vice-captain and his strong batting form make him a vital asset for India in their upcoming Test series against the West Indies.