Ajinkya Rahane: The quiet contributor
New Delhi, When Ajinkya Rahane entered his residential society in Mumbai after leading a battered Indian team to an unlikely Test triumph in Australia five
New Delhi, When Ajinkya Rahane entered his residential society in Mumbai after leading a battered Indian team to an unlikely Test triumph in Australia five years ago, his excited neighbours welcomed him with a cake which had a kangaroo-shaped topping.He had one look at it and agreed to cut only if the said topping was removed. Because the animal in question represented Australian pride and even in his moment of triumph, he did not want to disrespect the national symbol of a rival.Also Read: Ajinkya Rahane retires from international cricketThe incident was a reflection of the man's character. Clean, filled with poise, focussed on correctness with enormous courage built in.As the veteran of 85 Tests and 5000 plus runs with 12 quality tons finally retires, more than two years after last playing for India, one question lingers.Was Rahane an under-achiever or was he under-appreciated by India's cricketing ecosystem?For most of his career, Rahane was overshadowed by the two alpha males of Indian cricket -- Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who dominated the discourse and narrative in the decade between 2011 and 2021.This was despite the fact that at the peak of an injury crisis and in the absence of regular captain Kohli, Rahane instantly transformed himself into an inspirational leader who showed the way with his bat in India's greatest overseas Test series win against Australia when half of the first team regulars were out injured.But like all quiet performers, Rahane wasn't given an option to complain about the crisis.
He was handed a job with no long-term guarantees and he brought in his own style to calm an obviously rattled dressing room and deliver unexpectedly good results.No flamboyant on-camera emotions, just satisfaction writ large on his face after India breached the Gabba fortress to humble the Australians. It was the quiet satisfaction of a job well done in extremely adverse circumstances.And then in his inimitable manner, he stepped aside to play second fiddle once the regular skipper resumed.Complaining wasn't in his grain. He didn't crib when as an eight-year-old, he was told by his father Madhukar to travel to Mumbai Maidan alone from suburban Dombivili. He was simply asked to grow up much like how he was asked to deliver as a stand-in skipper.His batting was an extension of his character.He earned his stripes through the hard grind of domestic cricket, and also led India with distinction during the limited opportunities he got. True to his name, he was undefeated in all six Tests in which he was the leader of the pack.The hundred on a first day green top at Lord's was a knock that displayed his temperament and technique in equal measure.The lofted boundary is still etched in memory. Yet somehow, Ishant Sharma's seven-wicket haul on the final day dominated the discussions.The script was similar at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2021.
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