Dhoni's contribution has been important in my success: Rahane

[Switchblade]

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/72563/dhonis-contribution-has-been-important-in-my-success-rahane How do you feel after winning the CEAT award? It's a prestigious award. I was humbled when I learnt that I'd receive it. The past couple of years have been wonderful for you. I've learnt a lot in the last two years. Every tour gave the confidence that I could express myself on overseas tours. I was really happy about the way I practiced before each of them. A lot of Indian batsmen fail outside India, especially on their first tour. What has worked for you? I keep things simple, which is what I learnt from Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Obviously , I made small adjustments, but overall, I didn't change my technique much. I also worked on mental toughness. Which was your favourite knock? Hundred at Lord's and the one at the MCG. Lord's was special because we won a Test there after a long time MS Dhoni has always praised you. Dhoni bhai gave me a lot of confidence, and backed me a lot. I would keep asking him ways to improve, and he would answer every question. So his contribution has been important in my success. You and Virat Kohli enjoyed long partnerships in Australia... Batting with him is a great pleasure. We compliment each other well. We understand each other's batting. The partnership with him at the MCG was really special. We gave each other a lot of confidence. It was enjoyable and memorable to talk to him between overs and sessions. I would tell him 'I am going to back myself and attack their bowlers. He just said: 'Do whatever you feel. I'm there at the other end. Whatever happens, I'll back our team.' Did you try to calm Kohli down during his 'verbal fest' with the Aussies? I just told him: 'Do what you want. If you feel like going after the bowlers, do it.' He's an aggressive batsman, who likes some verbal battles, since it charges him up. So, I didn't force him to keep calm. You were amongst the top rungetters this IPL. Have you cracked the T20 code? I really enjoyed my batting. For me, the process is important. I believe in myself, and know how I can play in every format. I have an idea about my game. My attempt is to learn something from every format. Because of this process, I can score quickly at good pace in T20 cricket. Mental adjustment and self-belief is necessary. What was (team director) Ravi Shastri's role in Australia? Ravi's help was crucial. He always gave us confidence. He was always positive.He told us how we can dominate the Aussies, and what our attitude should be. It's important to have a good attitude. Technique is a factor, but attitude, self-belief, and mental adjustment makes you win at the highest level. He focused on how our attitude should be in Australia. Have you ever been sledged? I've been sledged many times, but I only stare back or smile at the bowler. I don't speak, or express much, because my game is about being calm and speaking with my bat, rather than my mouth.That's my nature. I take out my anger through my bat. Two years back, did you imagine this kind of a success? I never believe in future plans. I had confidence in myself, but I never set goals for myself. It was important for me that my practice sessions should be so hard, that I would be ready for the actual match situation, which would seem easy then. I was conscious that I had to prepare hard in the practice sessions. Did you feel depressed when you were benched continuously? Not at all. I feel lucky that my family and manager supported me at that time.That support was necessary . I learnt a lot in that phase. I learnt a lot from senior players. I worked hard on my fitness and my game. I believe to succeed in international cricket, particularly Test cricket, you need a lot of patience, which that phase gave me. I reacted positively to that period, and utlised it well. How're you dealing with your newfound celebrity-status? I enjoy my fame. But at the back of my mind, I know that it's all due to cricket, and cricket is my first priority, which is something I've told my wife too. It's important for me to be down to earth. My parents have inculcated middle-class values in me since childhood. I still remember how they've brought me up and what conditions I have faced to reached here. I value that. It's important for me to respect cricket.

[BeautifulGame]

Rahane is all class .That Melbourne knock will be in memory for years .Kohli always hyped up for aggression but that's the best aggressive knock played by an Indian in recent times .The way he took on Johnson was like "who the feck u think u are "

[Gollum]

Rahane is all class .That Melbourne knock will be in memory for years .Kohli always hyped up for aggression but that's the best aggressive knock played by an Indian in recent times .The way he took on Johnson was like "who the feck u think u are "

+1, that knock would have made Sachin of the 90s proud.

[Gollum]

On top of that Ajinkya comes around as such a humble, likeable guy. No frills, no attitude, temperamentally similar to VSS,Dravid,Sachin etc. Really want him to succeed and become an ATG in test cricket, why does this poor guy always get such howlers from umpires? :((

[sensible-indian]

On top of that Ajinkya comes around as such a humble' date=' likeable guy. No frills, no attitude, temperamentally similar to VSS,Dravid,Sachin etc. Really want him to succeed and become an ATG in test cricket, [b']why does this poor guy always get such howlers from umpires? :((

That is because this guy has a scared kitten & guilty look on his face all the time. Seriously he needs to work on a tough guy look or atleast don't care look. This may sound silly but there is no other possible explanation. The amount of howlers he gets is staggering and it happens against all opposition, pitches and umpires. He has to realize that his guilty face plays a role and work on it.

[Debutant]

Why do you guys have to criticize or drag some other Indian player to praise another. Great INDIAN fans you are :hatsoff:

[CricketBuffOne]

Rahane has a great temperament and technique. Plus, he is humble and hard-working. He is going to serve Indian cricket for many years.

[Cricket_Hacker]

Hopefully learns how to bat in ODIs

[imran666]

Rahane has a face that no one can hate ..such a innocent look ..reminds me of dravid ..what i like about him is he keeps everything so simple ..he never acts like a rock star ..never gives too many interviews which helps him to be away from Controversys ..great find for india

[vvvslaxman]

Rahane is a gem that India has unearthed. Poor guy would have had even more fantastic overseas stats but for lot of bad umpiring.

[adi B]

Class act!! Really confident guy,looks meak but that is deceptive and he's a fighter

[adi B]

That is because this guy has a scared kitten & guilty look on his face all the time. Seriously he needs to work on a tough guy look or atleast don't care look. This may sound silly but there is no other possible explanation. The amount of howlers he gets is staggering and it happens against all opposition, pitches and umpires. He has to realize that his guilty face plays a role and work on it.

I've said this before and totally agree with this.body language is a very important aspect in cricket

[sensible-indian]

He's a pocket dynamite.

[Austin 3:!6]

Rahane's Lords knock was better than the one at G.

[skindia]

Rahane>srt in tests at end of his career

[Gollum]

You are comparing the batting of a 40 year old with a 25 year old guy. I am certain that , 40 year old Rahane cant even shine the shoes of a 40 year old sachin.

Are you a soothsayer? Even a 40 yr old Chanderpaul/Misbah wipes the floor with a 40 yr old Sachin. Rahane is also going to end up as an ATG, mark my words.

[jf1gp_1]

Rahane is all class .That Melbourne knock will be in memory for years .Kohli always hyped up for aggression but that's the best aggressive knock played by an Indian in recent times .The way he took on Johnson was like "who the feck u think u are "

I am tired of reading people bashing Kohli for any or everything. Name one batsman who last scored 4 100s in australia in a one series ?

[skindia]

Rahane is right,just coz of dhoni,he got chance to play with tailenders

[HippoSucks]

Are you a soothsayer? Even a 40 yr old Chanderpaul/Misbah wipes the floor with a 40 yr old Sachin. Rahane is also going to end up as an ATG' date=' mark my words.[/quote'] You don't need any special skills to predict that Rahane won't overcome Sachin. Anyway Sachin had played 4 times the tests and over 2 times the ODIs as Misbah. You can't compare their performances at the end of their career.

[putrevus]

If Purjara had progressed as everyone expected ,nos 3,4,5 would be set for a decade but he has regressed so much.Rahane if he says he is comfortable at no 3 I would move him and move Pujara to no5 for now.