IPL 2023: If I can play like Ajinkya Rahane, I will be fine – Ajinkya Rahane

Chennai Super Kings’ new signing Ajinkya Rahane knows if he can back his strength and bat-like himself, he will be fine in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023. Rahane is not known for his pyrotechnics and his strength has always been to time the ball.

The right-hander, who was roped in for his base price of INR 50 lakhs, was able to hit the ground running against Mumbai Indians while playing at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Saturday in the run-chase of 158 runs.

Rahane oozed class in his knock, laced with seven fours and three sixes. The right-hander timed the ball perfectly and took 23 runs from Arshad Khan’s over to put CSK in front. Rahane completed his fifty off just 19 balls, the fastest of IPL 2023, and went on to score a match-winning knock of 61 runs from only 27 balls.

“When we were bowling, we got the idea of how the wicket was playing and how the ball was behaving,” Rahane said. “When you’re chasing 150 or 160, it’s important to bat with intent in the first six overs. If you get a good start, it becomes really easy. When I went in, it was all about playing my normal game, backing my strengths.”

“Every player is different,” Rahane said. “I don’t want to be someone else; I just want to be Ajinkya Rahane. The way I know how I play, my strengths, my timing. I just want to back myself. I’ve never tried to be someone else. It’s all about trying to remind myself that if I can just be Ajinkya Rahane and play like Ajinkya Rahane, I think I’ll be fine.

Rahane also revealed his conversation with CSK skipper MS Dhoni before the start of the season. Rahane said Dhoni’s message was clear, ‘play with intent, back yourself, don’t change anything else.’

“The preparation we had as a team before IPL started… we came to Chennai on March 2. Mahi bhai [Dhoni] was there and the instructions from him were pretty simple: back your game, play to your strengths rather than trying to do something else. It’s all about knowing your game and, when you get an opportunity, just back that game.

“Mahi bhai’s instruction was completely clear, just play with intent, back yourself, don’t change anything else. If your intent is good, I have the shots that I can play at any ground so it was all about keeping it simple for me. I’m happy to bat anywhere. It’s all about your mindset and what you want to do for your team.”

CSK will next face Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.