After his sensible knock in the victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Monday (November 2), Delhi Capitals (DC) batsman Ajinkya Rahane revealed he was "disappointed" on not getting a chance in the playing XI in the early stages of IPL 2020.
Rahane couldn't play until DC was forced to rejig their balance after Rishabh Pant pulled his hamstring and later struggling opener Prithvi Shaw had to be given some time away.
Nevertheless, after initial failures, the veteran right-hander finally showcased his class and played an impactful knock of 60 in the run-chase against RCB.
He was especially matured in his approach during the wonderful partnership with fellow India cricketer, Shikhar Dhawan (54), as their intelligent half-centuries helped DC overcome RCB's 152/7.
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"Was disappointed when I didn't get to play. Felt good after contributing to the team's win and enjoyed batting with you (Dhawan). The way you batted I learned a lot," Rahane told Dhawan in a video posted over the official IPL Twitter handle.
Rahane felt clarity on his role at No.3 from the team management and the intent to win the game, instead of worrying about the net run-rate situation, were also crucial behind his and the team's performance on the night.
"Ricky told me that I am going to bat at number three. It's a good position to bat at. Our bowlers did really well for us. I enjoyed the partnership with Shikhar. The communication between us was all about intent," said the 32-year-old at the post-match presentation.
"We weren't thinking about any target. It was all about playing proper cricketing shots. I wanted to finish the game. We all know how funny the sport is. We've seen how things have happened in this IPL. Feels great to win in the end," he added as DC needed to score at least 134 of the 153 they required for victory to ensure they stay safe.
The six-wicket win nailed the second spot in the points table for DC. They'll now take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in qualifier 1 on Thursday (November 5) in Dubai.
(Inputs from ANI)
