Things can change anytime and even I harbour dreams of playing the World Cup, says Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane was dropped out of the team in the limited overs format and he played his last game in the Indian colors at the Centurion, South Africa during the February 2018 tour. He has also featured for the Mumbai team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. 

"I am aggressive as a batsman but by nature, I am an introvert. I don't like to talk too much, I prefer to let my bat speak but sometimes it's important to speak the truth. I have believed the team always comes first and I have always respected the team management and the selectors' decision and I will continue to do that. But in the end, it is important that the effort that I am putting in is acknowledged. As a player, I feel everyone needs consistent chances to do well for the team. Things can change anytime. And like every player even I harbour dreams of playing in the World Cup. So yeah, I am hopeful," Rahane told TOI. 

The Mumbai based batsman is also India’s best batsman overseas. With nine centuries in 56 innings, Rahane had scored 6 of them under overseas conditions. His records against England where the World Cup is scheduled to take place is also first-rate. He needs just 38 more runs to reach 3000 runs in the ODIs and has a healthy average of 35.26 batting for India. Despite not playing for India for about a year, Rahane is still within the top 50 batsmen in the ICC rankings.  

"I believe that my performances were really good. If you see the last three-four series, my average was around 45 to 50. After that, I was dropped. I went back to domestic cricket and I feel I have done reasonably well. I have always thought the country and the team comes first. Even when I played for Mumbai I started off an as an opener, but when the team wanted me to bat at No. 3, I agreed and accepted the challenge. Having said that, though, the point that I am trying to make here is that if as a player I have always been committed to the team's cause, then I deserve chances more consistently. That's the least I am asking for," Rahane asserted.