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The Times of India
The Times of India
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TIMESOFINDIA.COM

WTC Final: I don't want to think about my past, I just want to start afresh, says Ajinkya Rahane

NEW DELHI: Ajinkya Rahane is back in the Indian cricket team after nearly 18 months and doesn't want to have any regrets for the time lost and wants to carry the positive and aggressive mindset he had during the IPL into the World Test Championship final against Australia.

Rahane's experience and skills will be valuable for India in the highly-anticipated World Test Championship final. His ability to absorb pressure, play long innings, and contribute significantly to the team's success make him a vital member of the batting line-up.

1/10:The turnaround in Ajinkya Rahane's career

PTI

2/10:From IPL to WTC

<p>Ajinkya Rahane's resurgence for CSK, coupled with his promising domestic form, earned him a berth in the WTC final squad against Australia at the Oval. </p>PTI

3/10:Rahane for CSK

<p>Rahane finished with 326 runs from 14 matches at an astounding strike rate of 172.48 and was CSK's fourth-highest run-getter. </p>PTI

4/10:​Rahane's experience

<p>Rahane's experience of English conditions will be beneficial to the Rohit Sharma-led Indian side. </p>Getty Images

5/10:Rahane's comeback

<p>Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting was happy to see Ajinkya Rahane make a comeback to Test squad.</p>Getty Images

6/10:The positive intent

<p>Ponting also felt that his positive intent in the IPL, did help Rahane's cause. </p>Getty Images

7/10:Made for Tests

<p>Ponting feels that Test cricket is easier for Rahane compared to his recent exploits in IPL for CSK. </p>AP

8/10:Red ball calling

<p>Rahane last featured in Tests for India in January 2022 and has since been out of favour in the red-ball setup. </p>Getty Images

9/10:Horrendous 2021

<p>Before being dropped, Rahane had a horrendous 2021 where he scored just 479 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 20.82. </p>Getty Images

10/10:Last Test ton

<p>Rahane's last Test century came at the MCG in the Border-Gavaskar series of 2020/21 where he captained India's comeback after the dismal 36 all out. </p>Getty Images
The turnaround in Ajinkya Rahane's career

"Coming back after 18-19 months, whatever has happened, good or bad, I don't want to think about my past. I just want to start afresh and keep doing whatever I have been doing," Rahane told BCCI.TV on the sidelines of India's training session at Arundel in Portsmouth.

"Personally enjoyed playing for CSK as I have been batting well throughout the season, even before IPL. I had a very good domestic season and I felt good. So this comeback was a bit emotional for me."

Rahane, who was a part of CSK's fifth IPL title-winning side, has already received a lot of praise for his attacking batting and improved strike-rate in T20 cricket, and especially the 27-ball 61 against Mumbai Indians showed a shift in his intent.

"I want to bat with the same mindset and show same intent that I showed before coming here in IPL and Ranji Trophy. I would not like to think about format whether it is T20 or Tests. The way I am batting now, I don't want to complicate things and the more I keep it simple, better it is for me," the veteran of 82 Tests and 4,931 runs said.

Rahane played a crucial role in leading the Indian cricket team to a historic Test series victory in Australia during the 2020-2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rahane's captaincy was widely praised as he stepped in for regular captain Virat Kohli and guided the team to a remarkable comeback after losing the first Test.

1/10:WTC Final: India and Australia records at The Oval

Getty Images

2/10:World Test Championship final

<p>As Australia prepare for the World Test Championship final against India, the men from Down Under would be eager to put their past struggles at The Oval behind them.</p>Getty Images

3/10:Australia at The Oval

<p>In over 140 years of Test cricket in England, Australia have had one of the worst records at The Oval, which will host the final from June 7 to 11 between the top two Test sides.</p>Getty Images

4/10:First-ever Test in England

<p>Australia played at The Oval in 1880 in what was the first-ever Test in England. </p>Getty Images

5/10:Poorest record across England

<p>The Aussies have managed mere seven wins from 38 Tests at The Oval, putting their success rate at the venue at 18.42 per cent, their poorest across England. </p>Getty Images

6/10:2 wins in last 50 years

<p>Australia have won just twice in the past 50 years at The Oval. </p>Getty Images

7/10:Australia at Lord's

<p>Australia have 17 wins from 29 matches at Lord's at a success rate of 43.59 per cent.</p>Getty Images

8/10:India at The Oval

<p>India, on the other hand, haven't fared too well at the venue either having won two, drawn seven and lost five games. </p>PTI

9/10:First Test win in 40 years

<p>But the Rohit Sharma-led side will be boosted by the 157-run win over England at The Oval in 2021, which was it's first Test victory at the venue in 40 years. </p>Getty Images

10/10:Defeat against India

<p>Australia finished the 2021-23 WTC cycle on top of the table, their only loss being the 1-2 away defeat to India earlier this year. </p>Getty Images
WTC Final: India and Australia records at The Oval

Rahane praised Rohit Sharma for his leadership during the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

"I thought culture in team now is really good. Rohit is handling the team really well and I am sure Rahul bhai is also handling the team really well. That helps as well and atmosphere is really good. Whatever I am seeing right now is that everyone is enjoying each other's company," he said.

Rahane thanked his family and friends for the support he got during his time away from the national team.

"It was (an) emotional moment for me. When I got dropped, the support I got from my family was massive and dream was to play for India and that was massive. Playing for India matters a lot for me and I worked hard on my fitness and went back to domestic cricket."

"Thanks to BCCI and selectors and when I went back to domestic cricket, the goal was to play for India -- be it Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or practice session, for me, every day that I was waking up, it was all about thinking that I can play for India again.

1/10:WTC Final: Acid test for Shubman Gill

ANI

2/10:Shubman Gill

<p>No one ever doubted Shubman Gill's class but over the last two months of the IPL, he has suddenly hit a different level. </p>ANI

3/10:The heir apparent

<p>All the attention is now firmly on Gill and the cricket world is ready to present him as Virat Kohli's heir apparent. </p>ANI

4/10:The mantle

<p>A decade ago, Kohli took over the mantle from Sachin Tendulkar. </p>TNN

5/10:The red ball test

<p>While Kohli's ODI performances in the early 2010s had a major role in that, his biggest test came in red-ball cricket. </p>Getty Images

6/10:From Sachin to Virat

<p>Once Tendulkar retired, in the first Test that he played - against South Africa in Johannesburg - Kohli smashed 119 and 96. </p>Getty Images

7/10:The transition

<p>Kohli is still far from being retired but now is the moment of transition. </p>PTI

8/10:From IPL to WTC

<p>If Gill has to truly become the claimant of the 'king of Indian cricket' title, he has to recreate his T20 magic in Test matches. </p>ANI

9/10:All eyes on Gill

<p>Not that Gill hasn't shown flashes of it already, but come the World Test Championship final at the Oval from June 7, the arc lights will really be on him.</p>Getty Images

10/10:Opening in England

<p>Gill's job could be slightly more difficult than what it was for Kohli all those years ago, for the simple reason that the Punjab boy is an opener. </p>Getty Images
WTC Final: Acid test for Shubman Gill

"What made my comeback possible was enjoying each and every moment, be it success or failure, and having no regrets. Learning from every individual in Mumbai Ranji team. You have to grow as a cricketer every single day, learning process shouldn't stop," he said.

Playing in England is challenging, feels Rahane, who had scored a match-winning hundred in a Test match at Lord's back in 2014.

"It's all about mindset and reading the situation well, staying in (the) moment and playing it session by session. In England, you just don't look at the pitch but also keep an eye on the weather. In England, you never feel that you are in even if you are batting on 70," he said.

(With PTI inputs)

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