Ajinkya Rahane is a right-handed batsman who represents the Indian cricket team. Born on June 6, 1988, his full name is Ajinkya Madhukar Rahane. He is fondly known as “Ajju” among teammates and close friends. Rahane is well-regarded for his calm demeanor both on and off the field, and his composed nature has earned him admiration from fans and colleagues alike.
Rahane’s batting style is characterized by his strong defensive technique, often drawing comparisons to the legendary Rahul Dravid, also known as “The Wall of India.” This comparison significantly boosted Rahane’s profile, as Dravid is considered one of the greatest players in the history of Indian cricket.
Ajinkya Rahane’s journey to success is an inspiring one. Coming from a humble background, his family couldn’t afford to spend much on his cricketing career. Living in Dombivli, Rahane would spend long hours traveling by train to attend cricket practice. Due to financial constraints, he couldn’t afford expensive coaching and instead received his training at a modest coaching center. Despite these challenges, Rahane’s perseverance paid off, and today he is recognized as a prominent figure in Indian cricket.
In 2007, Ajinkya Rahane was part of the India U-19 cricket team alongside future stars like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ishant Sharma. His success in the U-19 team earned him a chance to play first-class cricket for India. Rahane’s cricket journey gained significant attention when he made his first-class debut at the age of 19. Opening the innings with Sahil Kukreja, Rahane scored an impressive 143 runs off 201 balls, a performance that led to his selection for the prestigious Irani Trophy.
As Rahane’s performance improved steadily, he continued to impress with his batting skills. In the 2007-08 season, he made his Ranji Trophy debut, representing Mumbai. His ability to consistently score runs and his composed batting style quickly caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts and fellow players, further solidifying his reputation as a talented batsman.
Nature of Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane is known for his calm and composed demeanor on the field, despite being an attacking player. He learned early in his career that unnecessary aggression often leads to getting out, so he adopted a more measured approach while batting. Rahane consistently performed well in every tournament where he had the opportunity to showcase his cricketing skills.
His debut in Test cricket came as a replacement for Shikhar Dhawan, who was injured during a match. Although some speculated that Rahane got his chance only because of Dhawan’s injury, he quickly proved his worth with solid performances on the international stage.
During his cricket career, Ajinkya Rahane faced many challenges, and his batting style wasn’t very aggressive at first. Because of this, people assumed he couldn’t handle pressure, and his early performances were not very strong. However, Rahane proved his critics wrong when he scored his first Test century on February 15, 2014, against New Zealand. After this, people began comparing him to Rahul Dravid, calling him the “second Dravid” due to his solid performances in Test cricket.
Rahane made his ODI debut against England, scoring 40 runs in his first match and 47 runs from 54 balls in the second match. Though his career started slowly, his performances in the next few ODI matches against Pakistan and England were not very impressive. In August 2011, Rahane made his T20 International debut, scoring a half-century against England. His popularity in India grew, especially due to his brilliant performances in IPL matches.
In the IPL, Ajinkya Rahane initially played for Mumbai Indians but didn’t get many opportunities to showcase his talent. In the next season, he joined Rajasthan Royals, which gave him a great chance to prove himself. Rahane opened the innings alongside his role model, Rahul Dravid, which was a dream come true for him. That season turned out to be a game-changer for Rahane, as he performed brilliantly for Rajasthan Royals and made a name for himself in the IPL.
Ajinkya Rahane Family
Ajinkya Rahane comes from a middle-class family in Maharashtra. He was born on June 6, 1988, in Sangamner, Ashwi Khurd, and belongs to a Marathi family. Rahane completed his schooling at SV Joshi High School in Dombivli. His father, Madhukar Baburao Rahane, had a low income, so he couldn’t spend much on Ajinkya’s cricket career. Despite this, Rahane started playing cricket at the age of seven, determined to pursue his passion.
Due to his middle-class background, Ajinkya Rahane joined in a regular coaching centre since elite coaching centres charged high fees that his father, Madhukar Rahane, couldn’t afford while managing family expenses. Ajinkya’s coach, Pravin Amre, who himself played for the Indian cricket team, played a crucial role in shaping Rahane’s early cricketing skills.
The coaching centre was far from his house, he had to travel 2km to reach the coaching center. His mother “Sujata Rahane”, she did lots of struggle because mother can do anything for her son to make a bright future. He has one brother “Shashank Rahane” and one sister “Apurva Rahane”.
Ajinkya Rahane Wife
Ajinkya Rahane is a simple man with a kind demeanor. In his childhood, he fell in love with a girl named Rashika Dhopavkar. Their love story is like a scene from a classic film—cute, simple, and beautiful.
As they grew up, their love for each other deepened. They began dating and eventually started living in the same area. Although Ajinkya wasn’t the typical adventurous guy, their relationship was filled with genuine friendship. Both families were aware of their love, and they encouraged the couple to consider marriage if they wanted to spend their lives together.
On September 26, 2014, Ajinkya Rahane married Rashika Dhopavkar in Mumbai. They invited fellow cricketers, BCCI members, and close friends to celebrate their special day. The reception, held at the MCA, was a joyous occasion where the entire Indian team came together to celebrate. Ajinkya and Rashika make a lovely couple who understand each other well, and we hope their love story continues to flourish.
Ajinkya Rahane Batting
Ajinkya Rahane’s batting style stands out because he plays like a star player who knows how to handle pressure. His skills have led to comparisons with great batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman. Many consider him a future star of the Indian cricket team, capable of playing in any format and executing a variety of shots.
- Rahane made his T20 debut against England on August 31, 2011. In his T20 career, he has played 20 matches, scoring 375 runs with an average of 20.83 and a strike rate of 113.29. He hit one half-century in T20s, which came on September 3, 2011.
- He made his ODI debut against England, where he has played 84 matches and scored 2,822 runs, with an average of 35.27 and a strike rate of 78.72. Rahane has scored three centuries and 23 half-centuries in ODIs, with his first century coming on March 22, 2013.
- Rahane played his first Test match against Australia and has since appeared in 43 matches (73 innings), scoring 2,826 runs with an average of 44.16 and a strike rate of 52.63. In Test cricket, he has scored nine centuries and twelve half-centuries.
- In the IPL, he has played 111 matches, scoring 3,057 runs with an average of 33.59. He has recorded one century and 25 half-centuries during his IPL career.
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