Quotes from Ajinkya Rahane

Personally, I take every match seriously and give off my best... My aim is to win and there's no time to relax.

You are always happy when you make a hundred.

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.

Just to go out there and do well. Get as many runs as possible at the top of the order and get the team off to a good start.

I have always worked hard and there's nothing that can compare to captaining India.

I don't try and copy anyone in T20 cricket. My cricketing shots are inside out, behind the bowler, and other shots I have developed.

It's important to train even if you're not batting. You just have to do that routine every time.

I think as a leader, as a captain, it's important to back your instincts, whatever you feel. Yes, it is important to take advice from your colleagues, but in the end what your instincts tell you, you should back that.

Yes, process and preparations are the most important for me as a player. If preparations are not great, that tends to affect performance. When preparations are perfect you are not searching for results but only counting on performance.

As an individual, you take Covid-19 situation aside, you would want your family to travel with you, but because of this situation, safety is important, safety of your wife, family and daughter, obviously safety of your teammates is really important.

Consistency is the key to becoming a good cricketer.

I got my black belt First Dan at the age of 12 and I was the youngest in my training centre. I practised karate till a few years ago and it has helped enhance my flexibility, stamina and mental toughness.

Once you play County cricket, you get strong in the mind and get used to different methods... If it's swinging or seaming in overcast conditions, it's all about how positive you are mentally and if your body movement is in the right direction... You can then always bat better.

For me, the most comforting thing is that the team management thinks I am comfortable in any position I am assigned. They trust me so much and if they give me responsibility of batting in a particular position I also respond positively to it.

Last year when I was playing for Hamphsire, Delhi Capitals asked me if I was interested in playing for them. I took my time and I thought it's an opportunity for me to learn something new. To take my game forward, to take my T20 game forward.

When I played 2 months in county cricket, I learnt a lot.

My physical preparation for a series starts at least 10, 15 days before it begins, but mentally around a month before I start visualising things as to which bowling attack I will be facing, the conditions I will encounter and other things.

At No 3 you have to take a bit more time to find your feet, but at No 5 you take much less time to get adjusted because you have already observed your openers, the No 3 and No 4 batsmen and you get a fair idea of how the wicket is playing.

Obviously, I'm enjoying my County stint. This is the first time I am playing County cricket and it's a different experience. It's an opportunity of a lifetime and everyone should play it.

I try not to get affected by criticism as it is unwanted and I can't control it.

As long as I value what I have and respect my cricket, I know I am on the right path.

I'm always looking at cars on the street or online.

If I am playing 18 ball, I aim to see how I can get my strike rate to 150-160. After 6-14 overs, you need to break down, that if you play half balls, then how much runs you need to get on the board.

It's always important to respect your opponent.