Rahane lost his place in the Indian Test team earlier this year.
Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane has recovered from the injury and will return to action in the upcoming season of the Duleep Trophy. After a string of low scores, Rahane, once a mainstay in the Indian Test team, was dropped earlier this year.
Before the Duleep Trophy opener on Thursday (September 8), Rahane, who will lead the West Zone, said he was looking forward to a fresh start and wasn't considering his prior performances or the possibility of playing for the national team again.
He last featured in a competitive game of cricket in the Indian Premier League of 2022 while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, he was forced to withdraw from the tournament midway due to a hamstring injury.
Additionally, he was unable to play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy knockout rounds.
“The recovery has been good. I was in NCA for a couple of months. The NCA staff and BCCI looked after me really well. I’m completely fit, and this is my first game after injury,” he said.
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He continued by saying that he intended to stay in the moment and not think about the past or the future.
“It [the domestic season] is really important. I’m looking forward to start from zero again. For me, I don’t want to think about my past or future; it’s about being in the moment, and that’s why I said I want to start from zero again. You always get goosebumps when you go on the field, and I always like that feeling.
“When you get that goosebumps, you get the motivation – whichever game you’re playing, whether it is a domestic game or international game. That feeling should be there. That feeling is still there, and I’m really excited about this season, starting with Duleep Trophy.” he added further.
The elegant batter was grateful for the assistance NCA staff provided him while he was undergoing rehabilitation.
“We will see what happens in the future, but I believe it’s important to be in the moment and focus on what’s in hand right now rather than focus on your future,”
“It took me two months to get fit. I had to follow a strict diet and routine for these two months, but it was really good, and the staff were really positive. I’m out of that now. [I] just want to be fit throughout the season, and keep scoring runs,” he stated.
The West Zone captain also admitted that, following his rehabilitation, he had been training indoors in Mumbai and had not participated in many significant training sessions.
“This [at Chepauk] was just my second session outdoors. I was just batting indoors in Mumbai, so I’m not thinking too far ahead or thinking too much about my batting. I [have] got the experience, but it is important to be in the moment and respect the opponents and respect the conditions wherever we are playing, and then take it from there,” Rahane concluded.
(FIRSTPOST INPUTS)