Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma took on a different role as he turned reporter, playfully firing a couple of questions at his deputy Ajinkya Rahane during a media interaction ahead of the first Test against West Indies in Dominica.ย In a light-hearted moment, Rohit burst out laughing when Rahane responded to a question about his successful comeback to the Test team despite his age.
Ajinkya Rahane, who recently turned 35, was dropped from the Indian squad after the South Africa tour of 2021-22. However, he made runs in domestic cricket and impressed in IPL 2023 for Chennai Super Kings, earning a recall for the World Test Championship final.
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Rohit posed a question to Rahane about his message to the young players, considering his experience of playing in the West Indies and on those pitches. Rahane stressed the importance of patience and staying focused, emphasizing that cricketers should avoid distractions and focus solely on the game at hand.
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When #TeamIndia Captain @ImRo45 turned reporter in Vice-Captain @ajinkyarahane88‘s press conference ๐
What do you make of the questions ๐ค #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/VCEbrLfxrq
โ BCCI (@BCCI) July 11, 2023
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As per the quotes in News18, Ajinkya Rahane said, โMy message to youngsters and everyone is that patience is very important. The atmosphere here is quite chilled. How important is it for cricketers to focus on not to think what they have to do after 5 pm. You have to adapt to the country you are in. You have to keep your focus on the ground. Thereโs no need to focus elsewhereโฆ”
But just as Rahane was answering, heavy rain started pouring down, forcing the players to seek shelter inside the dressing room. Despite the interruption, Rahane managed to convey his appreciation for playing under Rohit’s captaincy. He described the experience as enjoyable, highlighting the freedom.
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India’s tour of West Indies will kick off with a two-match Test series in Dominica, starting from Wednesday. After the Tests, the two teams will proceed to play three ODIs and five T20Is.
During the media interaction, Rohit’s playful questioning and Rahane’s insightful responses provided a lighthearted moment ahead of the series. The camaraderie and mutual respect between the two players were evident, reflecting the positive team atmosphere within the Indian cricket setup.
