I want to make ODI comeback, really enjoy playing ODIs, says Ajinkya Rahane

Despite being a regular campaigner in the longest format of the game, a spot in either limited-overs squad has eluded him, more so in the last two years. It has been a year and a half since Rahane’s last ODI appearance for India and with the emergence of youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer - players more suited to the format - a return for Rahane looks unlikely. However, the 31-year-old admits that it quite a predicament for a Test specialist to impose himself in ODIs or T20s. 

“Apart from Tests, I really enjoy playing ODI cricket as well. I want to come back to ODIs, but right now, the focus is completely on this series (against South Africa),” Rahane was quoted saying by Sportstar.

“Your practice sessions should be really hard so that when you step in to play a match, it gets easy for you. Preparation and process is the key. You need to believe in yourself and come out strongly. If I can keep my mind at the present — that is Test cricket — other things will fall automatically,” he said.

Although a seasoned campaigner, Rahane was left out of the Indian squad that travelled to England for the World Cup. In the meantime, Rahane travelled to Southampton to play County cricket for Hampshire. And that, he feels and the world witnessed during India’s West Indies tour, helped him to regain his mojo. 

“It’s a completely different experience when you play county cricket. Here, we get things so easily. In county cricket, you need to do everything on your own. Apart from cricket, small things helped me a lot. I used to walk alone after the practice session and question myself about what I was thinking when I started playing cricket. The answer was that I enjoyed (playing) cricket rather than focusing on the outcome. When you think about focus and outcome, you put yourself under pressure,” Rahane said.

“I played seven matches and the focus was actually on red ball because I knew we would play Dukes ball in the West Indies. Trusting your ability was the key,” Rahane added.

As a result, Rahane hit 81 and 102 in the first Test and backed it up with a half-century in the second. Whether that and possible good performances against South Africa, will offer him a path back to wearing the ODI colours for India in a packed home season is yet to be seen.