Shikhar Dhawan was selected back in the opening slot for the three-match T20 series against Australia.
Ajinkya Rahane's consistency with the bat - his four consecutive fifty-plus scores in the series stands as an example - was a big factor in India's win in the ODI series against Australia. However, the opener has not been selected to the T20I squad for India's three-match series against the same opposition. But Rahane said on Monday that he completely respects selectors' decision.
Rahane was called in as a replacement for Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings. However, he failed to live up to the expectation with a score of just five in the first ODI, played in Chennai. He then bounced back with scores of 55, 70, 53, 61 in the next four matches. In fact, with four consecutive fifty-plus scores, he joined Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, who has a similar record to their name.
The T20I squad was announced on Sunday. Shikhar Dhawan was back alongside his old partner Rohit Sharma in the opening slot, but Rahane's name wasn't on the 15-member list.
"Yes, so much cricket we play, the team management, selectors take a decision and we respect it. Speaking about the competition, it is necessary and it helps you to give your best performance. Whoever gets a chance does well for the team. I have always enjoyed the competition (among players)," Rahane said.
Talking about his form and performance as an opener in the Australia series, Rahane said, "Yes, I am happy. The responsibility and the opportunity I was given, the way I was supposed to bat, I did. Definitely, I am happy with the form I have carried from the West Indies tour, I have made four consecutive fifties.
"I could have converted the fifties into hundreds. It was in my mind to contribute, I shared three 100-run stands with Rohit (Sharma) and our aim was to give a good start to the team," he added, "In the future series if I get a chance I will convert the 50s into 100s."
Talking about the team as a whole and their slow and steady progression towards 2019 Cricket World Cup, Rahane added, "It is a proud moment for all of us. Our aim is 2019 World Cup and we are going in that direction. For that we have to play series by series and match by match, the aim of this team is to win every match and series, and we always try to improve.
"All have performed. In the middle-order Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav, whenever they got opportunity, they have performed. Rohit and Virat (Kohli) have always performed well. Kuldeep (Yadav) and (Yuzvendra) Chahal got a chance and they did well. Our bench strength is good. The fact that all of us get a chance and perform is a good sign. If you have to win the 2019 World Cup, then you have to test your bench strength."
(With PTI Inputs)
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 "Ajinkya Rahane")
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