It’s been two years since he last got a Test hundred but Ajinkya Rahane didn’t want to be “selfish” thinking about his own milestone when the priority was to get his team out of the woods. Coming in at a precarious 25 for 3 on the opening day of the first Test against West Indies, Rahane scored 81, an innings he values more than a hundred. In fact, he knew a question would pop about missing out on a hundred, having last scored one against Sri Lanka back in 2017.
“I knew this question was coming and I was ready,” he smiled when asked at the day end media conference. “As long as I am at the crease, I am thinking about my team, I am not a selfish guy. So yes, I am not too concerned about the hundred as I thought 81 on that wicket was really crucial as we are now in a decent position,” said Rahane after India finished the day at 203 for 6.
A century would have been nice but what mattered more was playing according to the demands of the situation. “See, as long as I am contributing for my team is what matters. Yes, I was thinking about my hundred but the situation we are in — 25 for 3 was tricky. As I have said, I just thought if I could contribute for my team. I am not too concerned about my hundred as that will come automatically,” the 31-year-old said. He spent a couple of months with Hampshire in English county, playing seven games in which he scored a hundred and a fifty.
The Mumbaikar feels that it’s too premature to say whether the stint proved beneficial or not but it certainly helped him get him some quality batting practice.
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