Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane was a notable inclusion in Team India’s World Test Championship (WTC) final squad, announced by the BCCI on Tuesday (April 25).
Rahane was recalled to the Test side as Shreyas Iyer’s back injury opened a middle-order slot. The right-hander was dropped from the Test team in 2022 but he had a decent Ranji Trophy 2022-23 season, amassing 634 runs from seven games at an average of 57.63 while leading Mumbai.
As Rahane made a return to the Test squad, he was over the moon and the right-hander took to his official LinkedIn profile to share his first reaction.
“In my career as a professional cricketer, I have realized that the journey is not always smooth sailing. There are moments when things don't go as planned, and it becomes tempting to get bogged down by the result. However, I have learned that it is essential to stick to the process and not let the outcome affect our focus,” Rahane wrote on his profile.
“As I look back on my career, I realize that the moments when I stuck to the process, despite the unfavourable result, were the ones that taught me the most. These are the moments that helped me grow as a person and as a cricketer. I realized that the times when I let the result dictate my approach were not my finest moments.”
Rahane, who has represented India in 82 Tests so far, also shared his two cents on handling pressure and dealing with the expectations from fans.
"Sticking to the process is not only essential in cricket but in any field that demands excellence. It helps us focus on the things that we can control and take ownership of our actions. When we focus on the process, we don't get overwhelmed by the outcome, and it keeps us motivated to keep working towards our goals.
"As someone who has been in the spotlight for several years, I know that the expectations can be overwhelming. However, I have learned to not let the pressure get to me and focus on the things that I can control. It is the same advice that I would give to anyone who is looking to advance in their field.
“So, let us all focus on the process and trust in our abilities. The results will follow, but until then, let us keep working hard and keep pushing ourselves towards excellence,” said Rahane.
Ajinkya Rahane is currently plying his trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He has taken the cricketing world by storm with his dazzling exploits in the ongoing IPL, scoring 209 runs in five innings at an incredible strike rate of 199.04.
