Ajinkya Rahane Ready For Challenging West Indies Tour

Gearing up for the West Indies tour, stylish India batsman Ajinkya Rahane on Tuesday said it will be important to start the challenging four-Test series on a positive note.

"This is actually my second tour to West Indies, first time I was with India A team, but with the Indian team it is my first time and I am really excited about this tour. I'm looking forward and I have prepared myself really well," Rahane told reporters on sidelines of an event here.

"I am sure it will be challenging because West Indies is a decent team. We will give respect to them and it is important to start well in the series," he added.

Rahane, who was appointed as the vice-captain of the Test team, joined hands with 'P&G Shiksha', P&G's flagship Corporate Social Responsibility programme, and unveiled the new impact numbers of the initiative.

The Indian team will be touring the Caribbean nation for a four-match Test series, with the first game beginning at North Sound, Antigua on July 21. Asked about the role of a vice-captain, the right-handed batsman said, "It is a good responsibility as a vice-captain and I love facing challenges and love taking responsibility, so its not pressure, not added pressure but I think responsibility will bring best out of me."

"As you (the reporter) mentioned about the last Zimbabwe tour (in 2015, wherein he captained the ODI side),I really learnt a lot as a captain in Zimbabwe from my teammates, from opponents, and as a captain you know how to back your players, support your players, whatever happens as a captain, you have to take all the responsibility and I really learnt from that tour," he added.

Rahane recalled that he was "always a first bencher" in school and loved history as a subject.

"My favourite subject (in school) was history and maths (mathematics). I was OK in maths, but I like history and read a lot of books. So, history was my most favourite subject (in school)," the 28-year-old player quipped.

Asked whether he was a first or last bencher, Rahane said, "I was always a first-bencher."

For Ajinkya, his father is a superhero.

"My favourite superhero is my father. Since beginning I have looked upto my father, the way he brought me up, he told me importance of education (because) as a cricketer you play till 39-40 (years), but after that your education comes in handy. My superhero is my papa," he added.