IPL 8: The Evolution of Ajinkya Rahane into a Shorter Format Menace

He's not flashy. He's not flamboyant. He's not a power-hitter and he doesn't fall in the 'star' category.

Yet, Ajinkya Rahane sits pretty on he top of the run-getters' heap this IPL, with 305 runs in 6 matches. The orange cap though is not just a reward for his incredible run scoring spree, it's also an indication of how this 26-year-old has evolved as a batsman, across formats. (Kings XI Punjab Edge Out Rajasthan Royals in 'Super Over' Thriller)

NDTV IPL expert and former Australian cricketer Dean Jones told NDTV, "When you think of Ajinkya Rahane you just think of a beautiful fluid technique."

That's a description that best suits a Test cricketer and Rahane was someone who was tagged as a player who could be the perfect replacement for VVS Laxman. His technique and temperament are very much in the Laxman and Dravid mould. (Bizarre Moments of Indian Premier League 2015)

However, he has played only 14 Tests for India. t's the shorter formats where Rahane has begun to dominate. He has played 54 ODIs and has an ODI strike rate of 77. Not a lot of people know that Rahane made his T20 international debut even before he made his Test and ODI debuts. he hallmark of this diminutive batsman seems to be the ability to evolve according to the opportunities available.

Back in February this year, after Rahane's 60-ball 79 versus South Africa in the 2015 orld Cup, MS Dhoni had this to say about him, "Rahane is definitely one of the individuals who is not really rigid. He is quite open to ideas."

Rahane knows what it means to make the most of an opportunity. As an opening batsman for the Rajasthan Royals, he has made a serious impact at the top of the order. Without going for the big sixes, Rahane has turned into a very effective T20 player. (IPL 2015: The Players Who Have Made an Impact so Far)

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV, "What has been impressive about Rahane's career is the way he has made those little changes that have helped him to get better in every format of the game. This batsman is a thinking batsman, who keeps thinking about how to get better and that is why he is such a vital cog in the Rajasthan Royals team and a vital cog in the Indian cricket team."

Dhoni echoed the sentiment just about a month ago when he said, "There has been improvement, irrespective of the format. In Twenty20, ODIs or as a Test player, he (Rahane) has really improved."

 

Ajinkya Rahane has been in sublime form this IPL

© BCCI

Rahane has three Test centuries, with tons in New Zealand, England and Australia and two ODI centuries. He has a T20 international strike rate of 177. Before joining Rajasthan Royals, he was with the Mumbai Indians and didn't get too many games.

The Royals bought him in the 2012 season, at a time when Rahane was not even considered to be a T20 player. He finished the season as the leading run-getter for his team. He was also the highest run-getter in the 2013 Champions League T20.

This IPL season, he has already crossed the 300 run mark in just six games. Rahane is turning into an IPL run machine. Ironically though he has hit only 36 sixes in eight seasons of the tournament so far. That's 100 sixes less than Chris Gayle.

Gavaskar though pointed out, "He (Rahane) has shown that you don't need to be a power player."

Over the years, Rahul Dravid has been given a lot of credit for the way Rahane has matured as a player. Dravid, who captained the Royals before becoming team mentor, knows a thing or two about grabbing an opportunity with both hands. With Dravid guiding him, Rahane has transformed from a shy, longer format specialist into a player capable of batting at any position, in any format.

Is there a chink though in Rahane's armour? Dean Jones feels the Rajasthan opener can improve as a T20 player.

Jones told NDTV, "His strike rate right now is 121. We judge great T20 players not on averages but on strike rates and if he wants to be up there with the greats, he needs to get up to 125-130."

That doesn't seem out of Rahane's reach. Maybe he is already on his way to becoming a shorter format great. Not bad for someone who was at one time branded 'not a T20 player.'