I just wanted to stay blank and play one ball at a time: Ajinkya Rahane
The first batsman to notch up a hundred in what has been a particularly low-scoring Test series against South Africa, India’s Ajinkya Rahane said the key to his success was keeping a blank mind and playing one ball at a time.
“When I was batting, I just wanted to stay blank and play one ball at a time. I wanted to build partnerships with the other batsmen. It feels really special that I batted with (Ravichandran) Ashwin while getting my hundred,” Rahane, who scored a superb 127, told mediapersons at the end of the day.
“In the first two Test matches, I was looking to play shots initially and that’s why I got out. I knew I was batting well. I spoke to Sanjay Bangar and Ravi bhai (Ravi Shastri) and they said ‘You have just got to take your time initially, play one ball at a time. If you are 25 to 30, your instincts will take over’.”
The stylish batsman said there was nothing wrong with his technique but he was playing too many shots too early.
“There was nothing wrong technically or mentally. I was just playing shots close to my body. I was slightly hurrying as I was trying to play my shots straightaway. Here I just wanted to take my own time and play as close to my body as possible, wait for loose balls. Patience was key over here. Determination and patience helped me in this innings,” Rahane revealed his secret of success.
For Rahane, the hundred is indeed a special one as he made his Test debut at this venue.
“Yes, it is a very special hundred for me because I made my debut in Delhi against Australia. So I had a few things in my mind. Those memories against Australia (were revisited). I was pretty determined to bat well as I knew that I was batting really well in the series.
“But important was to spend time in the middle and later on look for big innings. So really happy for the hundred but especially for the partnerships, which I got with Ashwin, Virat and Jadeja. That took us to 330 plus,” said the soft-spoken Rahane.
Rahane also toed the team line that they did not discuss about the pitch conditions.
“We were not thinking about that. In the dressing room, we are not talking about the wickets. It is important for us to win the match and win the series. There is nothing wrong with the wicket. You should give credit to our bowlers especially Umesh and Ishant.
“That three-over spells each spells from both of them was pretty crucial. Because in the dressing room, we never think about how good or bad the wicket is. It’s team effort that we played really well,” said Rahane.
Rahane had mixed feelings about the Kotla track which he described as neither too easy nor too difficult for shot making.
“Shot making was not easy but once you are set, you decide that you are not going to get out. It was difficult for bowlers to get batsman out. We all saw that when our bowlers bowled (showed) good discipline and patience.
“For bowlers, it was important to show patience and bowl in right areas but as batsman, I feel spending time in the middle, taking my time, playing my normal cricket rather than play attacking shots was important. It was not easy for shot making but not difficult as well,” he observed.
Rahane lauded Ashwin’s effort and the contribution from the lower order which included the 38-run stand between Ashwin and Umesh Yadav for the 9th wicket.
“That’s a good sign when you know that your lower-order is batting really well. I think that partnership (Umesh Ashwin) was crucial. If guys at 8, 9, 10, 11 can contribute, then opposition’s morale goes down. Batting with Ashwin was really important. Communication was just to play normal cricket.
“Ashwin can bat as he has got 2 Test hundreds. We thought this morning that their bowlers Morne and Abbott will come hard at us. So we took our time initially. Ashwin was timing really well. Even I took my time and then decided to play my shots as well.”
There was a sense of déjà vu for Rahane as he said that it felt like being in the same situation when he scored his second Test hundred at Lord’s last year.
“When we were 138/6 (actually 139/6), I was recollecting those memories as even at Lord’s, we were 142/7 (actually 145/7). It was like same situation. I was just thinking to just communicate with other batsmen and back my instincts.
“When Ashwin came in, I just told him that if the ball is there to be hit, I will go after and back my instincts. I think the response from him was crucial. He was really positive from his end. He said you can bat whatever you like and however you like. So those memories from Lord’s innings came handy here,” Rahane fondly recollected.
He also said that the whole team felt that he was “one innings away from coming back amongst runs”.
