Ajinkya Rahane counting on Test success for ODI return

Ajinkya Rahane last donned the coloured Team India jersey back in February 2018 and at the age of 31, he is nowhere in contention for a berth in the limited-overs national team. However, the vice-captain of the Indian Test side is pretty confident that he can make a comeback in the ODI team. Keeping in mind the same, he wishes to keep racking up runs on a consistent basis.

Rahane’s upcoming assignment is the two-match Test series versus Bangladesh. The opening game in Indore gets underway on Thursday, November 14 with the second Test being a day-night affair at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Mumbai batter dearly wishes to contribute heavily in the Test matches in order to stake his claim back into the limited-overs scheme of things.

A confident-sounding Ajinkya Rahane

“I just need to play well in the Test matches, keep scoring runs and I am confident that I will be back in the ODI side. It is all about self-belief and being confident. Staying in the present will help me, if I contribute to the side’s cause in Tests, I am sure I will be back in the ODI squad,” Rahane was quoted as saying to the reporters.

Both India and Bangladesh are busy in preparations for the Kolkata Test as the sides are yet to play a day-night Test thus far after its introduction back in 2015. It was only before a couple of weeks ago that the BCCI and the BCB agreed to play Tests under the lights.

A few of the Indian cricketers have been straining every sinew with the pink ball at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Rahane said that the Indian team is looking forward to the characteristics of the pink ball during the match. But he also stated that the main emphasis is on the Indore Test for the time being.

“At the NCA, we had two practice sessions with the pink ball. One during the day, and the other during the night. For me, it was exciting as playing with a pink ball is different altogether. Our goal was to see how the ball behaves. We had a word with Rahul Dravid as well, but right now the focus is on the Indore Test,” he added.

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