He also revealed why Washington Sundar wasn't given the ball in the day-night Test.
India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane isn’t worried about his recent performance with the bat ahead of the fourth and final Test against England, starting March 4 in Ahmedabad, saying he is a “team man” and whenever the team needed him, he scored runs for the side.
The veteran batsman hasn’t scored a hundred in his last seven appearances in Test cricket having hit a match-winning hundred in the third Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Ahead of the final Test in Ahmedabad, Rahane was asked about his failure to convert starts into big scores, and the vice-captain has insisted that he isn’t “too concerned about it” while highlighting how he has always stood for the India team and will continue to do so in the future.
Read Also: "IPL gave us that platform to express ourselves" - Ajinkya Rahane responds to Dale Steyn
Rahane said in a virtual press conference, “I was expecting this question. You need to check your facts right, you know my contribution to the team. Whenever the team needed me, I scored runs for my team. So you need to focus on your facts to come up with the question.”
He further added, “I am team man, and whenever the team needs me to perform in a particular situation; I have always done that so I am not too concerned about it. As a player I always look to learn, look to grow, which is really important.”
The Indian vice-captain has also revealed why Washington Sundar wasn't given the ball despite fielding three spinners in the recent third Test, as he bowled only four balls in the second innings against England at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last week.
Rahane signed off by saying, “R Ashwin and Axar Patel were bowling well, they were taking wickets that's why he (Washington) didn't bowl. He was in the team because of his all-around ability and that's why as a team we took that call. He is a quality player and has done really well for the team in the last two three-Tests.”
(With ANI Inputs)