Ajinkya Rahane bullish about vice-captain role

India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane’s ascension as vice captain will bring in more responsibilities for the 27-year-old when the team departs for the West Indies in July. But the right-handed batsman, known for staying calm and patient when pacing an innings, is upbeat about his new designation.

“It is a new responsibility for me and I enjoy taking them. I am looking forward to the series in West Indies. Around three or four years back, I had gone there with the India A team. The West Indies are playing good cricket and they have a young team,” he said.

The middle-order exponent has scored centuries against South Africa, Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. But he is not going to take the West Indies bowlers easily.

“They have a young team but it is important to respect them. Every country has different challenges. We need to get used to the conditions as soon as possible to resume normal cricket.

“I get a high performing everywhere, the country doesn’t matter. I don’t think about results. If one respects the conditions and opponents, results will follow,” added Rahane, who scored twin tons against South Africa last year in the home series.

Talking about the wickets in the Caribbean, he pointed that the tall bowlers would hit the deck hard in Barbados and Jamaica.

“They have a few tall guys. They will extract good pace and bounce in Jamaica and Barbados. But I like playing on bouncy wickets,” said Rahane, whose favourite player from the Caribbean is Brian Lara.

Rahane also shared a memory from India’s past tours, in the Courtney Walsh-Curtly Ambrose epoch.

“I remember watching Ambrose and Walsh bowling to Sachin Tendulkar (in 1997).

“They didn’t bowl a single half-volley till about 12-14 overs. His ability to stay patient surprised me. I was very young then,” he recalled.

However, Rahane expressed his happiness for the young cricketers of India who are about to tour Zimbabwe for a limited-overs series under M.S. Dhoni.

“It is a good opportunity for all youngsters to do well in Zimbabwe. It doesn’t matter who you are playing, it is a proud moment to play for India. The best thing is Dhoni is going with them, they will learn a lot under him,” he asserted.