Ajinkya Rahane’s valuable practice with Dukes ball in difficult conditions paid off, says Praveen Amre

When he tucked away a Kemar Roach delivery on to the leg-side for a couple to bring up his 10th Test hundred – 17 matches after his ninth – the joy on Rahane’s face was palpable. 

Once rated as India’s best batsman overseas, his confidence took a serious hit after being axed from the shorter formats of the game. India's Test vice-captain endured ordinary tours to England and Australia and even failed against Sri Lanka at home. However, after his twin knocks in the first Test in Antigua, an effort that contributed in an emphatic 318-run Indian win, things are looking promising again.

"It was his hard work throughout the year which paid off. He went to England and was ready to struggle against the Dukes ball in tough conditions. After coming back from there, realising that the Mumbai rains wouldn't allow him to train properly, he immediately left for Bangalore to train,” Amre told TOI. 

“Over the years, I've seen that even though he now has a family (his wife is expecting their first child), cricket has been his priority. He believes in working hard and is ready to make that extra effort to be in 'touch'. There was pressure on him, but I'm glad that the team management (skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri) backed him to come good in this format," Amre added.

According to Amre, it was demoralising for Rahane to be left out of the World Cup squad, given India’s major problems in the middle-order. However that is all in the past, and Rahane has an important second Test against the West Indies to look forward to, which starts from August 30.