MS Dhoni's pep talk helped: Ajinkya Rahane

When Ajinkya Rahane landed at the domestic terminal of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here on Friday afternoon, he didn’t have to bother about standing among ‘commoners’ to flag a taxi. As is the case, domestic players — including those from a powerhouse like Mumbai — do not enjoy the luxury of travelling on bulletproof team buses during the Ranji season.

They form a pool, hire a cab and head for their respective homes with their six-foot long kits.

Rahane won’t be visiting his Mulund abode this time. As is the norm, players are to stay at the team hotel. The Wankhede Stadium is a stone’s throw from the iconic Taj Mahal Palace and, on Sunday, the whole of Mumbai will root for a young Mumbaikar who’s hoping to make it big on the biggest stage.

The 23-year-old Rahane, fresh from his Man of the Match-winning knock in the third ODI against England on Thursday, can’t wait to set foot on his home ground. “It will be a very special moment to play in front of my home crowd,” Rahane told DNA on Friday. “I am eagerly waiting for Sunday,” he added.

However, Rahane wouldn’t have sounded so elated had he repeated the mistakes he committed in the first two ODIs.

When Alastair Cook introduced his trump card, off-spinner Graeme Swann, in the Hyderabad match last Friday, India were 50 for one with Rahane and Gautam Gambhir at the crease. It was the 12th over of the match and Rahane, playing his first match in national colours in India, was batting on 14 off 38.

Rahane, who boasts a first-class average of above 70, had looked nothing but out of place under the searing sun. Tim Bresnan’s pace, Steven Finn’s bounce and Jade Dernbach’s clever variations all but did him in.

The usually free-flowing batsman had failed to score a single boundary during his scratchy stint. He took a single off Swann’s second delivery before Gambhir gave him the strike again. In an attempt to break free, Rahane stepped out and tried to loft the world’s best spinner over long-off. The canny drift took the ball away from Rahane who, by now, knew his fate. Craig Kieswetter’s wild celebrations only made it worse for the batsman. Rahane was gone for a 41-ball 15.

Rahane’s New Delhi sojourn on Monday was slightly more dramatic but he made no more than 14 runs. A classy boundary followed by a top edge that went for six should have helped him settle in but an audacious hook off the very next ball bowled by Bresnan landed in Dernbach’s hands at long-leg. This time, Rahane had a 15-ball 14 to show for his madness.

On Thursday, India were chasing no less than 299 under the lights. Another failure and many would have been prompted to write him off. Thankfully, Rahane kept his cool to carve out a 91-run knock full of character. He was slow off the blocks but when you come to think of it, the ploy worked. He respected Finn’s aggression before taking on the others. The two men who’d dismissed him earlier in the series, were paid back with interest.

Rahane scored 20 runs off the 13 Bresnan deliveries he faced. Swann’s 22 balls fetched him 26. He fell nine short of a ton but that was enough for him to earn his first MoM award.

So what did he do right in Mohali? Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar reckons Rahane batted with a lot of patience and caution. “He didn’t go for his shots. He waited for the bad ball,” the former chief selector pointed out.

He added, “The fact that he hit just six fours shows how careful he was. Rahane has always been a quick scorer and he made up for the slow start by running plenty of ones and twos. It was a superb knock.”

Rahane credited skipper MS Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher. “Both encouraged me after the Delhi match. Dhoni, in particular, was very supportive,” Rahane said.

What did he say? “Well, he told me I am a very talented player and there’s no reason why I can’t do well. He asked me not to think too much and just play my natural game. I guess such a pep talk is bound to spur you on. I batted with no pressure at all in the third ODI,” Rahane said. Rahane also values the experience he gained on three India ‘A’ tours to Australia. “The pitches there are pacy and bouncy. Playing there helped me tackle the short ball to a great extent,” he said.