Vice-captaincy role will bring the best out of me: Rahane

Mumbai: After a hectic season of twenty20 cricket that culminated with the IPL 9 in May, Indian cricketers will don whites after almost six months (last Test match against South Africa at New Delhi, December 3-7).

The Virat Kohli-led side will be on the road as they tour West Indies for seven weeks starting July 6, for four Tests and two practice matches. Ajinkya Rahane, who will be second in command, believes the responsibility will bring out the best in him.

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It’s a good responsibility as vice-captain. I love facing challenges and taking responsibilities so it’s not added pressure but this responsibility will bring the best out of me,” Rahane, who will be stepping foot on Caribbean shores representing India for the first time, said on Tuesday.

The Tests will be played in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

Rahane though is not new to captaincy. Last year the Mumbai cricketer led a second string Indian unit to Zimbabwe. The Men in Blue won the limited over series 3-0 but lost one of the two T20s they played. Leading the Indian team made him mature on how to shoulder responsibility.

Ajinkya Rahane also signed a bat during the event. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav/DC)

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I learnt a lot captaining the side in Zimbabwe from my teammates and opponents. As a captain you know how to back your players and how to support them. As a captain you have take all that responsibility,” Rahane pointed out.

And the maturity spoke for itself when asked about his preparations ahead of the tour. “I am excited. I have prepared myself really well. This tour will be challenging because West Indies is a decent team. We will give respect to them but it is important to start well,” he said.

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Ajinkya Rahane shared tips with school children on how to better their game. (Photo: DC)

Rahane was addressing the media at a sub-urban hotel, here during an event highlighting the importance of education. The Rahul Dravid stuent, brought up in Dombivali, interacted with school kids, answering questions with ease.

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As a cricketer you play till you are 39 or 40 but after that your education helps. With education you can touch pinnacles never reached before,” Rahane said, also adding that his superhero is his dad.

Ajinkya Rahane answered questions thrown to him by the students, who were very happy meeting the Mumbai cricketer. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav/DC)

The technically sound batsman also dolled out tips to the students, while one of them even asked him his favourite subject. “My favourite subject is history and maths. I fared okay in maths but I used to read many history books,” he said with a broad grin.