Duleep Trophy: Rahane ready to start with a clean slate

CHENNAI: His international career may be heading south, but India Test specialist and West Zone skipper Ajinkya Rahane was filled with positivity ahead of the Duleep Trophy quarter-final face-off against North East Zone that begins on Thursday here.

Last seen in India whites in January, Rahane stressed that he is neither dwelling on the past nor thinking ahead, adding that he would start with a clean slate in the “premier domestic tournament”. Having recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for a few months, the Mumbai stylist cannot wait to experience the “goosebumps”, which he gets while stepping on the field every time, once again.

“It is all about being in the moment and staying in the present. I have got the experience, but it is important to stay in the moment. I would like to take one day at a time. I look forward to starting from zero again,” Rahane told reporters on Wednesday.

“I was at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) in Bengaluru for a couple of months. The rehabilitation was really good. The NCA and BCCI staff looked after me really well. It took me two months to get fit. Now, I just want to stay fit throughout the season and keep scoring runs,” said the middle-order technician.

“I am really excited about this season. When you get that goosebumps or motivation… whichever match you are playing. Whether it is a domestic or international match, you should have that feeling. I still have that feeling in me.”

While Rahane has the fire in the belly to succeed in the full-fledged domestic season, he does not look at the red-ball competitions as a route to get back to the national fold. The 34-year-old had been dropped from the Test squad following a prolonged lean spell.

“See, I believe in following my processes. Right now, my focus is on the Duleep Trophy. I want to do my best for the West Zone team. We will see what happens in the future. I believe that it is important to focus on what is in my hands rather than think about the future. So, right now, my focus is completely on the Duleep Trophy… playing one match at a time. I look forward to doing well,” Rahane went on to add.

A down-to-earth personality, Rahane won many a heart when he picked up litter – especially water bottles – and put them into the bin at the end of a training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday. His ardent followers would hope that Rahane ‘bin’s the bad form with a dominant Duleep Trophy display.