Ajinkya Rahane, the vice-captain of Team India’s Test squad, shared his positive experience playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Rahane mentioned that the CSK management provided him with the freedom to play his natural game throughout the tournament.
In the IPL 2023, Rahane scored 326 runs in 14 matches, boasting an average of 32.60 and an impressive strike rate of 172.49. His consistent batting performances in the IPL earned him a recall to the national team, where he delivered notable scores of 89 and 46 in the WTC final against Australia.
During a pre-match press conference, Ajinkya Rahane discussed his role in the Chennai Super Kings squad during the IPL 2023 season. “In the IPL, CSK has given me the freedom. As a player, when you are given a role, you strive to fulfill it,” Rahane expressed to reporters.
“Previously, my role in the IPL was to be an anchor, but the CSK team management allowed me to play my natural game. I am a natural stroke player, and it has been a role reversal for me,” he added.
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Despite being 35 years old, Rahane believes he still has a lot of cricket left in him. He credited his success to the IPL and the domestic season. “I am still young. There is plenty of cricket ahead of me. I had a good IPL and domestic season. My confidence as a batsman has grown, and I have also dedicated a lot of effort to improving my fitness,” he stated.
Rahane further emphasized that he has worked on several aspects of his batting and is currently enjoying his cricket. He added, “I am not thinking too much about the future. For now, every match is important to me.”
The Indian team led by Rohit Sharma will commence their campaign in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle with a Test series against West Indies. The first Test match is scheduled to take place in Dominica from July 12 to 17, followed by the second Test in Trinidad from July 20 to 25.