Perth: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that talented Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane is one player who has improved by leaps and bounds in recent times and is ready to don any hat for the team’s cause.
His 60-ball-79 against South Africa was equally important in the final context of the match, as much as Shikhar Dhawan’s explosive century.
A Test century each in Wellington, Lord’s and Melbourne bore hallmark of his class and his skipper is the first one to acknowledge that he is fast emerging into a force in limited overs format as well.
“Well, there has been improvement, irrespective of the format. In Twenty20, ODIs or as a Test player, he (Rahane) has really improved,” Dhoni was quick to admit Rahane’s growing stature in the team after his impactful knock against the Proteas at MCG yesterday.
According to Dhoni, the biggest advantage of Rahane is his flexibility and readiness to new ideas.
“Rahane is definitely one of the individuals, who is not really rigid. He is quite open to ideas,” the skipper was all praise for the 26-year-old’s adaptable approach.
The skipper said Rahane will always come up with a feedback after he has tried executing a new strategy or idea.
“Once he tries out a new idea, he gives you a good response as to whether it’s working or not working for him. Also he’s one of the fittest guys. You see him on the field, he’s very quick, and his intensity actually never drops right from the first over until the 90th over. If you see a Test match, which to me is what fitness is all about,” Dhoni said.
Dhoni has always been generous in his praise for his colleagues but when it came to Rahane, the skipper was in a mood to dissect the qualities that made him stand out in the pack.
Dhoni said Rahane is an introvert. “If you normally ask him to do something, he would simply nod and say yes,” Dhoni had a smile as he showed how the Mumbaikar nods like an obedient student.(PTI)
