India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has on Friday (May 8) said that the batting legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid have been his role models in many ways.
Revealing that Tendulkar and Dravid helped him at various stages of his career, the 31-year-old right-hander said he always tries to emulate the two legends both on and off the field.
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Rahane got the opportunity to play with both the Indian greats – with Dravid in 2011 when he made India debut while in 2013 with Tendulkar when he made his Test debut.
Speaking to Times of India, Rahane said: “Both have been my role models for the way they played the game and for the way they are as human beings. Game-wise both (of them) helped me at various stages of my career, but I always try to emulate them off the field too.”
Meanwhile, Rahane has been an integral part of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) having spent most of the IPL time at the Royals, as he played 106 matches for the side besides leading the franchise in 24 matches in the premier T20 tournament.
The right-hander is also the leading run-getter for the Rajasthan Royals both in the IPL and CLT20 with 3098 runs at a healthy average of 35.60 and a strike rate of 122.30.
Well, the Mumbai batter is now set for a new journey with the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and he has called his move from RR to DC “a new challenge”. He will be joining the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, and Rishabh Pant at the DC camp headed by the Australian legend Ricky Ponting.
Rahane, who previously played for Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant (now defuncted) in the IPL, said: “It’s a new challenge. I’ve played with many of the Indian players in Delhi so there already is a comfort factor, knowing so many of them. We are a good unit and looking forward to having a good season.”
Meanwhile, he is often compared with Dravid because of his playing style and calm and composed demeanor and the cricketer said: “It’s always nice to be spoken about in the same sentence as Rahul Dravid.”
Noteworthy, Rahane has represented India in 65 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is so far.
(With Times of India Inputs)
