Ajinkya Rahane, the vice-captain of India in the longer format of the game, learnt to play cricket in the farmlands which were outside of Pune in the fields of Sangamner. While speaking at a promotional event in Pune on Sunday, he said he always wanted to help the farmers since he understood their hard work and also the way they have to deal with critical situations.

“In cricket, the toss is not in our hand. If we win it then we have the advantage of choosing what we want, but lose the toss and we have to find a way out. Same is the situation with farmers, who are facing tough times with drought situations,” Rahane said. “I remember how my grandmother used to wake up at four in the morning and start working. Since my childhood I have had a dream to do something for farmers since I know the hardships their families face. I got an opportunity to contribute for farmers and I am doing whatever I can do.”

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For him, those grounds and farmlands will always be special, and he believes that the farmers are the heroes in society.

“Whenever I have my daily meal, whether it is at home or in a hotel, I always think that we are privileged to have an easy life. But, it is the farmer who has done all the hard work to make everything so easy for us,” Ajinkya  Rahane said. “I used to play cricket on our farms and they were my first cricket pitches. When we toured South Africa, the pitches there reminded me my farmlands.”