Averages don't matter much to me, contributing to team does: Ajinkya Rahane

MUMBAI: Senior India batsman Ajinkya Rahane has said more than averages, it is his contribution towards the team's cause that matters to him.

"When you bat in India at number 5 or 6, you usually walk in when your team is at 300 for 3 or 350 for 3. By that time, you have to accelerate to make runs because teams want to declare," Rahane said in the latest episode of ESPNcricinfo Cricketbaazi as India's Test vice-captain spoke to former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta.

"But when you're playing abroad, even if you walk in after a good partnership, like I did in Melbourne, the ball is still really hard, the wicket is good so you are able to play your shots. It helps even more if you are an attacking player like me. You have more time to play your shots abroad. Averages don't matter that much to me. I think your contribution at the right time matters a lot," said the 32-year old who has played 65 Tests for India.

Rahane is also one of the best slip fielders in the world.

"Before my Ranji Trophy debut, during my U-19 days, I took a lot of good catches in the slip. My coach thought that finally they have found a good slip fielder. But then after seeing my disappointing performance in the slips during my first Ranji season, they started to doubt my capabilities.

"I felt terrible that I was dropping so many catches. It was my first season at Ranji and I was nervous. But then I realised that a player has such seasons too in life. Anybody can drop catches. I started practising catches. I would take 100 catches in every training session. I would even practise taking catches alone to get an idea of the angle at which the ball arrives, I would also practice one-handed catches to see how much I could stretch. This practice made me a good fielder at slips," narrated the ace Mumbai batsman.

Rahane also shared the advice he got from batting legend and former India captain Rahul Dravid. IANS 

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