Whatever the format, I want to be the best batsman for the team: Ajinkya Rahane

You had a great one-day series in the West Indies, where you won the man of the series award. How important was it for you?

It was a very good and important series for my ODI career. I really wanted to make it count when we went to the West Indies. At the same time, I didn't want to put pressure on myself. I just decided to back myself, bat with freedom and express myself in the middle because I was batting really well. I had a couple of sessions in the West Indies. Even in England, I was batting really well (in the nets). The preparations were very good. I had the self-belief when we went to the West Indies. My mind set was perfect.

The way you got starts, it looked like you would convert all those into big ones, especially when you have the ability to play some big knocks, didn't you?

Definitely. But, what you think doesn't work every time. It's important how you convert your starts in big scores. The wickets were completely different compared to those in England, slow and sometimes with spongy bounce. I had to take my time initially and play my normal game. I just wanted to keep that consistency going and I wanted to contribute to my team. I wasn't thinking about my personal achievements, my personal scores. Yes, I wanted to do well. My preparations and my routine were important rather than me thinking about the results.

You have been a proven performer in all formats including the IPL. Do you feel strange that you are the second option (as opener) when it comes to limited-overs cricket over other batsmen?

Not at all. I always look to giving my best whenever I get my opportunity, whether it's in the opening position or in the middle order. I don't think about what is going to happen, what is happening. I always give my best at that particular moment. If the team management asks me to bat at a certain position, I am always ready for that. I've always maintained that whenever you are representing your country, number doesn't matter. What matters is what you are contributing to the team and country.

Do feel any kind of pressure as you are always under scrutiny to prove yourself as a limited-overs batsman?

Not at all. It brings the best out of me. It's completely a different challenge. You want to do well every time whenever you step on to the field. I want to bat, whatever the format. You want to give your best and be the best batsman for the team. So, whenever I go in to bat, I always believe in giving the best. I take it as a challenge every time.

You have evolved as a batsman from a shy guy to a confident one ready to take on the best. How would you analyse your evolution since your debut in 2013?

I have really learnt a lot since my debut. I always believed in getting better and better in each and every format and give my best. As a batsman, it is important to keep learning every time and stay hungry for your runs. I don't get satisfied. I think the main thing as a batsman for me is my preparation, my routines.

You appeared calm and composed in the Test against Australia in Dharamsala. Also, there were some good cricketing decisions you took including playing Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav to fox the Aussies. Does captaincy comes naturally to you?

I feel people decide that. I don't think about all these things. Yes, I analyse the game, read it whenever we step on the field or when I am in the dressing room. I always like to analyse. I keep thinking what I will do if I was the captain. It is important and good to read the game as a player as well. You actually evolve as a player and a captain.

Can you tell us what kind of a camaraderie you share with captain Virat Kohli? You, as his deputy in Tests, are completely opposite to Kohli, aren't you?

Everyone's character and nature is different. Aggression brings the best out of Virat and my calmness brings the best out of me. So, we both are on the same page whenever we discuss certain strategies. As a captain, whenever he comes and asks for strategies or suggestions, I always give my inputs and he respects my inputs. Whenever I feel something, I go up to him and tell him. He always respects that. It's good to see that our communication is very good and we gel really well together.

Who do you go to when you are going through a tough phase?

I generally practice with Pravin Amre sir when I am here and we are on the phone every day. I speak with Sanjay Bangar sir. He is there with us. They are really helpful and they always like to keep it simple. Whenever I feel I should share my things, I share with Amre sir or Sanjay bhai.

How do you keep yourself calm and relaxed ever if you get out for zero? You don't express yourself much.

I have been like this from my childhood. I do meditation, which is helping me stay calm. When I get out or score runs, it is important to stay on the same page. It should not be a big fluctuation if you score well or get out early. It should be on the same level. That is really working for me. I always want to maintain my confidence level and preparations whatever be the result.

You didn't have a great 2017 so far with the bat compared to the previous season?

I don't think anything went wrong. If you don't score or things are not going your way, people feel something is going wrong. But I don't think so. I think that was just a phase. Everybody goes through it. It's important how confident you are in that phase as well. Confident level should be maintained. My strategies, plans were up to the mark. My preparations were good. It was just a phase for me. That has passed. I believe that time always changes. So, it is important to stay confident every time, whether you score well or not. I feel nothing went wrong.

Do you set goals before every season?

Yes, I do. I plan but not for whole season. I plan series by series. That is helping me stay in the present. Sometimes, if you plan for the whole season means, you tend to think too many things. I don't want to do that. I don't like. I always prefer going series by series and stay in that particular moment.

Sri Lanka series is coming up. The last time you went there, you took record number of catches in one Test. How do you look at this series?

It's equally important like any other series. We did well the last time we went to Sri Lanka. We have that experience about conditions and wickets. It's important to start fresh. Our aim will be to do well in the series, play to our potential. At the same time, we respect them.

How proud are you to see vice-captain of the Test team beside your name?

Feels really good. It is a proud moment that BCCI actually made me vice-captain. I would like to thank them for giving me this opportunity and new challenge. I always like to do well for my country and give my best and do well.

We see your wife with you on tours quite often. How is married life treating you?

It's been very good. It's so good to have her in my life. She actually understands my game. She knows what my routines are during the series, she respects that. It is important to have your partner with you during the series. We go out for dinner after the game or we may even go out in the off days. It's important to spend time with your family and it helps you switch off some times.