Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane fell 9 wanting a double century in a Group B match towards Assam on Wednesday. But Rahane will probably be happier if his workforce can win this recreation and safe six factors.
“Frankly speaking, I did not think about the 200. When I walked back to the pavilion at lunch, I was 130 odd (131 off 252). I just wanted to play my shots after lunch, and I came close to reaching double hundred. But for me, the team always comes first,” Rahane advised Sportstar.
“I am disappointed… Itna paas aake (to have come so close) to have missed the double hundred. But then, if we win this game, I will be more happy than scoring a double hundred. For me, the team matters. Winning matters the most. That’s my mindset,” he mentioned.
From being 131 off 252 at lunch, Rahane shifted gears within the subsequent session, including the remaining 60 off simply 50 balls. He struck a flurry of boundaries, guaranteeing the workforce crossed the 650-run mark with ease. He reduce and drove fluently and inched nearer to his second double-century on this version earlier than Gokul Sharma caught him at slips off Riyan Parag about half an hour after lunch; Mumbai declared its innings instantly after.
“When I got closer to 200, I did not want to break the rhythm. Sometimes, when you think about a certain milestone, you lose momentum and get out. I wanted to continue that rhythm. Uss mein agar ho gaya toh ho gaya (If that gets you to the milestone, so be it), it’s about playing with intent. I changed gears after lunch. That was important because runs started flowing, and that’s why I came closer to 200,” he mentioned.
“At least I tried my best and played my shots. You learn every time. That’s the mindset you should have, whether you get double hundred, 150, 175, it’s all about what you learn from those innings and grow as a cricketer.”
Out of the nationwide workforce for some time, Rahane has had a memorable outing within the Ranji Trophy to this point, amassing 538 runs in seven innings. With a brand new nationwide choice panel in place, Rahane might make a comeback within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at residence subsequent month.
But Rahane doesn’t need to assume too far forward. “Selection is not in my control. The selectors will decide that, so I leave it up to them. For me, it is about scoring runs for Mumbai and winning matches for the team. I like to stay in the moment. My dream is to play for India again.”
Rahane scored 204 towards Hyderabad final month, and got here near including one other double-hundred to his tally. But not one to rue missed alternatives, Rahane is focussed on sealing an outright win for his workforce.