India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane says criticism doesn’t bother him much as his job is to win matches for his country.
“I’m happy to take criticism. I feel it’s because of the criticism I’m here. I always want to give my best whether people criticise me or not,” Rahane told reporters in a virtual press conference ahead of the much-awaited World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand. The match will be played at Ageas Bowl in Southampton, starting June 18.
“For me, it’s important to give my best for my country and contribute each and every time be it as a batsman or a fielder,” Rahane, who played a massive role as skipper during epic series against Australia, said.
“Having played Test cricket for more than eight years, Rahane knows that public opinion is fickle and at best left alone with focus on controllables.
“I don’t really think about criticism. If people criticise me, that’s their thing, and that’s their job. I cannot control all these things. For me, I always focus on controllables, putting my best foot forward, working hard and following my process and the result follows,” added Rahane.
Despite his blow-hot-blow-cold form over the last few years, India’s Test vice-captain with 1095 runs in 17 games is team’s top scorer in the two-year World Test Championship cycle leading to the final against New Zealand.
“It feels special,” Rahane said about emerging as the top scorer.
The Indian vice-captain in 2019 had played for the Hampshire county and has a better idea about the ground where he has also played two Tests in 2014 and 18, both of which the visitors lost.
For Rahane, the WTC final is just another game and his mental make-up is such that he is not thinking of it as the biggest event. “It’s just a mental thing. If we can switch mentally and adapt, it’s important. Yes one off, we have to take it as another game not as a final or anything. We just want to give our best, play good cricket, be consistent in the five days.”
