Someone else took credit for my decisions in Australia: Ajinkya Rahane
India looked down and out in the series when they were bowled out for just 36 in the day-night Test in Adelaide. Virat Kohli also flew back to India after that defeat to be with his wife, as they were expecting a child. It was Ajinkya Rahane who led India in the remaining three matches and scripted a famous comeback that resulted in a series win as well.
He also played a pivotal role in their victory in Melbourne as he scored a match-winning century and thus led them from the front. However, in a recent interview, he has gone on to say that he wasn't happy to see others taking credit for the decisions he took.
"I know what I've done there. I don't need to tell anyone. That's not my nature to go and take credit. Yes, there were some things that I took the decisions on the field or in the dressing room but someone else took the credit for it," Rahane said in an episode of 'Backstage With Boria'.
"(What was) important for me was that we won the series. That was a historical series and for me, that was really special," he added.
Rahane, however, earned a lot of praise from pundits, former cricketers and fans for the way he led the team in the absence of Kohli and in the aftermath of that humiliating loss in Adelaide. India also kept losing many key players to injuries during the course of the series but the fringe players stepped up under Rahane's leadership to script an inspiring comeback.
"After that, the reactions from people or those who took credit or what was said on the media, 'I did this' or 'This was my decision', or 'This was my call', it was for them to talk about," Rahane said.
"From my end, I knew what decisions I took on the field and what decisions I took on my instincts.
"Yes, we talked with the management too but I used to laugh about it, that is what I did on the field, I never talk much about myself or praise myself. But what I did there, I knew." However, Rahane suffered a prolonged slump after leading India to that historic series win in Australia, and it continued on the tour of South Africa.
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Rahane hasn't enjoyed a good time after that series. He played 13 Test matches in 2021 and scored 479 runs at a meagre average of 20.82. That includes two fifties and some important 40s but the overall consistency was missing. Following his poor run, he lost his vice-captaincy too and played only as a batter during the series in South Africa, where he scored just 136 runs in six innings at an average of 22.67. He has been at the receiving end of criticism after his poor run but isn't bothered about that. In fact, he believes in himself and is confident about rediscovering his mojo.
"I just smile at it. People who generally know the sport will not talk like that. I don't want to get too deep into that. Everyone knows it, you know it, what happened in Australia.
"Even after and before Australia, the contributions I made, especially in red-ball cricket, I don't want to talk about it but Australia was really special. As I said, people who know the sport, love the sport they'll talk sensibly," he said.
"Yes, I am confident about my own ability, I am batting really well and I believe in my ability. And I still believe I have good cricket left in me," Rahane added.