Ajinkya Rahane: I believe I can play T20s too

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane has been a Test specialist over the last few years. But the Mumbai batsman is looking to finding a team in the two-day mega IPL auction, something that will provide him much-needed game time.

With 151 matches spread between Rajasthan Royals, the defunct Rising Pune Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, Rahane has scored 3,941 runs including 28 half-centuries and two tons with a strike rate of 121.34.

Rahane made most of the opportunities he got with the Mumbai team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 last year when he top-scored for his team with 286 runs in five matches. He ended up being the third-highest run-getter in the tournament in which he recorded the joint-most number of half-centuries (4) in the tournament.

At a base price of Rs 1 crore, Rahane is banking on his rich IPL and international experience apart from being a utility player. "I have not thought so much about which team I want to play for. For me, playing matches are more important. I have played for Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Super Giants, where I had a particular role of batting through the innings. I think I did pretty well for a consistent period of time.

"At Delhi Capitals, I did not get too many opportunities in the last two seasons, so I am really looking forward to playing the T20s. I believe I can play T20 cricket too," Rahane, who topped the run charts for RR in 2019 with 393 in 14 matches, told mid-day on Friday.