Rahane : Maaaan what class!

[Rajan]

Yup' date=' I'm really glad he's recovered and playing. But I literally freaked out when I read the report in the Mumbai Mirror some time back detailing the reasons for his absence. Poor guy.[/quote'] Nayar is not heavy built. hope he has not lost his strength. was batting like indian version of Klusener in IPL , more timing than brute force.

[fineleg]

old article on Nair - i had missed reading this before:

"So you think you are Klusener?" Anil Kumble shot out at Abhishek Nayar after being hit for three consecutive fours on the second day's play at the Wankhede Stadium. Replay this for a moment: after Nayar stepped out to swing the first two balls to cow corner, Kumble shrugged, "That was just a slog". He fired the next one in quick and short, Nayar went back to slap it to the cover-point fence and smiled at the comparison with Klusener. However, if Pravin Amre and Sachin Tendulkar had not helped, the aggressive 24-year old Mumbai allrounder would not be here today, having a chuckle on the cricket field. He was dropped after three ducks in the 2005-06 Ranji season but just as the self-doubt started sinking in, Tendulkar happened. Nayar recalls with gratitude a special 45 minutes he spent with Tendulkar at the Bandra-Kurla complex in suburban Mumbai. "I was down and was having problems with my batting. I was unable to get any power in my strokes off the back foot," Nayar told Cricinfo. He says he could drive but knew his back-foot play was going to hinder his cricketing career. Tendulkar asked him to take his stance and play a few back-foot shots. Nayar, who crouches in his stance before shuffling across from an outside-leg-stump guard, tried changing his stance in the Under-16 and 19 days but felt uncomfortable and returned to what he knew best - attack. Tendulkar spotted that his weight was on the heels rather than toes and that Nayar's shift in balance was not smooth. "He suggested a few drills - playing with a cone, he told me not to bother about changing my stance and talked a lot about the mental strength. He gave examples from his own career - how he once famously played out seven quiet overs from [Glenn] McGrath in a Test before returning the next morning and going onto the attack." Nayar told himself that if such a famed batsman could swallow his ego and play according to the situation, so could he. Amre, Mumbai's coach, worked on Nayar's batting at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana club and gave valuable input on the mental aspect of cricket. Two years ago, Nayar says, he would've probably said something back at Kumble but not now. Because Amre has made him realise the importance of being cool, calm and collected. Flash forward to the 2006-07 season when, after playing three games without a point on the board, Mumbai recalled Nayar for a game against Gujarat. Ajit Agarkar was set to play the next game and Nayar knew if he failed there, he would be dropped again. Remembering Tendulkar's words, he fought hard initially before exploding in the end to finish with 97 from 173 balls. He added 213 with Rohit Sharma, and that turned the tide for both player and team. Nayar was the third highest run-scorer for Mumbai, with 360 runs in five matches, and took 15 wickets to finish third in the bowling tally. Two breezy centuries this season, including one in the Irani Trophy, and life is suddenly sunnier for Nayar. Naik has that same walk to the crease and although he doesn't turn it big, you can see the Tendulkar imprint all over him Unlike many others in India Nayar didn't play much tennis-ball cricket. Instead, he started off with the leather ball as a 10-year old. One man who shares that uncommon trait is his team-mate Prashant Naik, who tackled Kumble with a straight bat to score a crucial 78 to help Mumbai stretch the lead in the first innings. Like Nayar, he too was drafted into the squad in the last season for the Gujarat game. He didn't play, but instead of idling his time, Naik hit the gym and lost four kilograms If Nayyar's association with Amre was at the Shivaji Park, Naik came under the former India batsman while playing for Air India, with which Amre was involved. Ironically, for a man who took a confident front-foot stride to tackle Kumble with aplomb, the front-foot movement used to be his major flaw. "I had a very short forward stride and I was struggling a touch with my front-foot play. Amre sir gave me specific drills [he was made to hit golf balls thrown at him with a shortened bat and had to stretch well forward to make proper contact] and that helped." Naik too has a special Tendulkar moment. Earlier in his life, he used to bowl an assorted mixture of legspin and medium pace. On one occasion Tendulkar, batting at an adjacent net, spotted him bowling his spinners and told him to concentrate on just that. "He gave me tips on my run-up, action, follow-through and the other nuances of the art," says Naik, who bowled a few overs today against Rahul Dravid, mirroring Tendulkar's action. He has that same walk to the crease and although he doesn't turn it big, you can see the Tendulkar imprint all over him. Naik played his junior grade cricket in Pune before he moved to Mumbai upon the advice of his cricket-crazy father and uncle. He missed the U-14 trials as he arrived late to the city, but was given a chance in the U-16 round. He impressed and has risen through the ranks to play for Mumbai and now dreams of representing India. The signs have been good, based on a century on first-class debut in the Mohammad Nissar Trophy recently, and 78 here. In Nayar, Kerala-born but raised in Mumbai, and Naik, from Pune, the defending Ranji champions have found two talents for the future.

[Rajan]

FL, that was a good one. shows Sachin can be such a good batting coach! i wish the selectors bllod more and more youngsters in the team as soon as possible so that sachin can guide them. i wud be happy even if v have a 3 test series against Bangladesh at home, to fill the pak tour cancellation. this can gv a decent exposure to the youngsters and the seniors can be rotated.

[bharat297]

Well I dont see any reason why Abishek Nayar is not in the ODI squad. We need an allrounder in that squad. Yusuf Pathan did an OK job against England and Irfans form isnt great atm.

[Mr. Wicket]

Agree, Nayar really didn't get the chances he deserved. His Ranji performances showed he can handle pressure situations very well, has a cool head, good temperament and a phenomenal range of shots. How many people do you see in a Ranji season averaging 40+ with a strike rate close to 100? Quality, and his bowling's a plus.

[The Outsider]

He should be dropped...made a selfish run a ball 35.

[Chandan]

Ajinkya Rahane Using the f-word to succeed Nagraj Gollapudi January 2, 2009 Ajinkya Rahane: "If I'm doing well I want to keep the rhythm. It motivates me; otherwise I have noted that I tend to slip off the pedal" © Cricinfo Ltd Two years ago Mumbai coach Praveen Amre got bad press for backing a rookie called Ajinkya Rahane. The detractors, including the selectors at the time, said Rahane was too flashy: a fine talent but fit only to make a swift 50. In their eyes the diminutive Rahane was never meant for the big league, but Amre stood his ground. "They thought he did not have the ability for the next level but I always believed he was good. Every hundred he scored this season was when the team needed it," Amre said of his protégé, who is now the leading run-getter in Ranji Super League this season. Alll eyes will be on Sachin Tendulkar when Mumbai play Saurasthra in the semi-finals, but Rahane will look to score the 24 runs he needs to reach the 1000-run mark for the season. He is the joint leader for the most number of centuries (both he and Cheteshwar Pujara have four) and has been involved in six 100-plus partnerships, including the 335-run stand with Jaffer against Hyderabad, a second-wicket record for Mumbai that surpassed the previous best of 291, which Ghulam Parker and Guru Gupte achieved against Tamil Nadu at Chepauk in 1981. In his debut first-class season last year Rahane scored 487 in seven matches. Ask him what changed and he answers with the f-word: focus. It is what he repeats to himself when he bats, and when he talks to his coach, captain and seniors. "My focus has increased in terms of doing well for Mumbai so I try to apply myself more now and focus on being in the present and nothing else," Rahane said while sitting on the porch of his apartment in the north-central suburb of Mulund in Mumbai. His forehead is still glistening with sweat from his second practice session of the day - a half hour knock-down at the local cricket ground. In the morning he trained with the Mumbai squad at the Brabourne stadium for a couple of hours, which was followed by a 90-minute local train ride back home, a quick lunch and then more batting. "If I'm doing well I want to keep the rhythm. It motivates me; otherwise I have noted that I tend to slip off the pedal." Rahane's size is similar to the short heavyweights Mumbai has produced in the past - Dilip Sardesai, Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay and Sanjay Manjrekar, Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli - but is not in that league yet. He has never met any of the above except Tendulkar, who is a role model. Recently, midway into the Ranji campaign, Tendulkar shared a few moments with Rahane. "He told me you are doing well and are now confident, but don't get over-confident or under-confident. This might sound ordinary but coming from someone like Sachin, it is very, very important." Just like his team-mate Dhawal Kulkarni, who has lead Mumbai's bowling attack admirably and is among the top five bowlers of the season, Rahane, too, has been one of the lynchpins for Mumbai. Both are 20, aggressive, and hungry for more success. Unlike Jaffer, who caresses his strokes, Rahane goes hard at the ball when playing his shots. A predominantly off-side player, Rahane now concentrates on playing in the V along the ground. But bowl short at him and he will punish you immediately. His aggression is evident even in the field, where he is often seen egging on his more laidback teammates. Along with Amre, Jaffer has been a source of inspiration for Rahane. Both play for Indian Oil Corporation and in the last few years they have developed an unshakeable bond and an understanding that has helped Rahane fast-track his progress. In last season's Duleep Trophy match against the England Lions, facing an attack that included Monty Panesar, Steve Kirby and Liam Plunkett, Rahane began aggressively and reached a point where he was on top of the bowlers but could have easily lose his way. The usually reticent Jaffer sensed this and walked up to him to offer timely advice. "He did well to keep a tab on what should be done and not and that helped me get those big runs [172]," Rahane said. "It is nice that he does not shout but at the same time is appreciative." The duo put on another record partnership of 342 for the second wicket - this time for West Zone - breaking the previous best of 288 by Anushuman Gaekwad and Sanjay Manjrekar against North Zone in 1987-88. Responsibility comes with experience and so it is with Rahane, who admits to having played without any caution in his debut year. "'Let's hit a boundary', that was my aim. But now I want to perform for the team." Amre appreciates and rewards hard work and sincerity, qualities he feels Rahane posseses in abundance. "Whatever suggestion I gave he was open to it," Amre said. "When I was India A coach, he was a failure [and] could not grab the opportunity. But when I became the coach of Mumbai, we worked more on the mental side and chalked out a plan. It was not only skills but he was thinking differently." Rahane has now omitted premeditated strokes from his batting and is working hard on being balanced at the time of the delivery. "I can adjust at this age. We now constantly work on the figure nine position (standing in the shape of the number 9 while playing a shot). It helps as I can now play the shot into the area I want to hit."

[Feed]

'I cannot be everywhere all the time' Ajinkya Rahane and Wasim Jaffer crossing 1000 Ranji runs this season. when HT asked Sachin if it was one of those records that he missed, he simply said, “I cannot be everywhere all the time”. G Krishnan reports. More... 'I cannot be everywhere all the time' G Krishnan, Hindustan Times Chennai, January 05, 2009 First Published: 00:37 IST(5/1/2009) Last Updated: 00:45 IST(5/1/2009) “Fantastic. It is a terrific achievement by both of them,” said Sachin Tendulkar when HT asked what the master thought Ajinkya Rahane and Wasim Jaffer crossing 1000 Ranji runs this season. When asked if it was one of those records that he missed, Tendulkar simply said, “I cannot be everywhere all the time”. Tendulkar has enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of being with the Mumbai Ranji team over the last couple of days. "It has been fun always and I enjoy myself all the time," said Tendulkar. "Rahane has been in good form," said Tendulkar, dismissing talk of Mumbai being on the decline. "Mumbai cricket has not come down. It plays with the same grit." Ajinkya, who slowed down the pace of scoring, said that it was one of those days when he could not time his shots well. "I was struggling to play my strokes. The bat was not meeting the ball where I intended it to. I was not timing my shots well. As I struggled, I thought it was wise to stay in the middle and be patient."

[Lord]

what a stupid question to ask,he completed 1000 runs while playing 4 india n thats wat matters

[Sachinism]

Stupid reporter

[Rajan]

Rahane : Maaaan what class! 2nd class-based on semi final performance. nothing special.disappointed.

[sandtest]

The biggest plus point he has with him is age. Unlike Badri and Jaffer, he has lot more time to play domestics before making it in Team India.

[Mr. Wicket]

Bump again. 165 in the Duleep final.

[coffee_rules]

Do you notice 100s from players of other teams? You are to Mumbai what amits is to Delhi!

[Mr. Wicket]

No. I'm also a New South Wales fan. :--D

[Sachinism]

Badri will over-shadow that innings with another 200

[amits]

@salil, support players from other cities & states as well b4 accusing me of being a delhi fan and its not my fault that delhi players r so good with sehwag, gambhir, dhawan & ishant being from delhi

[Mr. Wicket]

@m1t$, read some of my other posts re. Dravid, G@mbh1r, S3hw@g, Jaques, Hughes, Steyn and co. Learning to read first might also help...

[h4te]

@salil, support players from other cities & states as well b4 accusing me of being a delhi fan and its not my fault that delhi players r so good with sehwag, gambhir, dhawan & ishant being from delhi

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[Ram]

I think its safe to say we've found the replacement for Rahul Dravid.