Ajinkya Rahane says 'Cricket is my only PR', but realizes staying in the News is important

Ajinkya Rahane has always been a quiet and focused cricketer, letting his performances speak for him.

Over the years, he has come to realize the importance of being in the public eye, but even now, he prefers his cricket to do the talking. The Mumbai batter has recently said about cricket being the only motivating factor.

Rahane admitted that he was never the type to seek media attention or build a narrative around himself.

"I was always shy, now I have opened up. My focus has been to play cricket and go home. Nobody told me that going ahead, certain things will be needed. Today also, sometimes I feel ki bus cricket khelo, ghar jao (just play cricket and go home)," Rahane said to Indian Express.

The former India vice-captain also opened up on his non-selection after the WTC 2023 final. Rahane was called up for the final and despite showcasing a decent performance, he was left out of the team from the subsequent South Africa tour. The player said he expected a call-up and was disappointed after the snub.

Despite the changing dynamics of the sport, where visibility in the media often influences perception, Rahane still maintains a simple approach.

"Now I am told I need to speak up, talk about my hard work. People say you need to be in the news. I don't have a PR team, my only PR is my cricket. I have now realized that staying in the news is important. Otherwise, people think that I'm out of the circle," he added.

His career has seen its fair share of ups and downs, with his recent exclusion from the Indian Test squad being a tough pill to swallow. Yet, Rahane refuses to lobby for his place.

"I'm not the person who will go and ask why I'm being dropped. There was no communication. Many said 'go and talk' but one can only talk when the other person is ready to talk. If he is not ready, there is no point fighting."

Rahane remains determined to make a comeback, focusing on his performances in domestic cricket rather than making noise off the field. He was superb in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and will be leading Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinal as well. The veteran India player is also poised for a leadership role with Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025.