Ajinkya Rahane may not have got off to a flying start in IPL 2022 where he is playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, post stints with Mumbai Indians, Rising Pune Supergiants and Delhi Capitals in earlier editions of the tournament, but given his class, we have our fingers crossed. In a chat, the Maharashtra batsman tells us why he is loving KKR, what he likes about Kolkata and his favourite pastime with his daughter.
Welcome to KKR! How has the experience been so far?
Joining KKR has been a gratifying experience so far. This is a franchise with a rich legacy and a fantastic fan base. The coaching staff, along with the players, have been very welcoming. Hopefully, we will live up to this faith and do something special this year.
We will miss seeing you play at Eden Gardens, but you have fond memories of playing here. What comes to mind instantly?
Majestic. It is a humongous stadium and the fans come together to create a terrific aura every time. I have many fine memories of playing at the Eden Gardens and I wish we get to play in front of our supporters sometime soon in the future.
What else do you love about Kolkata?
The sweets! I have to adhere to a disciplined diet but I sure do relish tasting some of the popular Bengali sweets whenever I am in the city. I especially like having a bite of sandesh and mishti doi occasionally. Moreover, the city has a unique charm attached to it. The Howrah Bridge and the Victoria Memorial Hall are some of the most attractive tourist attractions that one can ever come across! So yeah, there’s plenty to like about Kolkata!
Have you had a chance to meet Shah Rukh Khan?
No, I haven’t got the chance to meet him yet, but really looking forward to meet him soon.
What is your favourite Shah Rukh Khan film?
Swades is an absolute favourite of mine. I think there was a very important message embedded in the film and it struck a chord with many people like me. I also enjoyed watching Chak De! India. It came out just at the time when I was in the beginning of my cricket career. The beautiful relationship that it showed between sports and country was very heartening to see.
Who does your daughter (Aarya, 2) love watching?
She only watches the latest poems, lullabies and other rhymes right now. My room is buzzing with these songs at all times and she has somehow gotten hooked to them. Even I’ve been humming these catchy rhymes because of her! I don’t think she’s into watching any movies yet! (Laughs)
I just love being with her as she goes around doing her own little things. Most of the times she’s just playing with some toys, running around from one end of the room to another, listening to these poems.... But I cherish every moment I get to be around her. I already missed some precious time of her childhood due to the bio-bubbles, so I try to now make the most of any day spent in her presence
What are your favourite father-daughter pastimes?
I just love being with her as she goes around doing her own little things. Most of the times she’s just playing with some toys, running around from one end of the room to another, listening to these poems…. But I cherish every moment I get to be around her. I already missed some precious time of her childhood due to the bio-bubbles, so I try to now make the most of any day spent in her presence.
What are your dreams for her?
See, as a parent, you just want your child to become a good human being first, someone who respects everyone and is ingrained with strong value systems. Anything beyond that is not in our mind right now. Every generation tends to be smarter than the preceding one, so it is not up to us to set goals or ambitions for her. Moreover, she’s too young for us to think that far ahead as well!
After more than a decade, how do you look back on your dreams as a cricketer? Have they all been fulfilled?
You can never run out of targets and ambitions while playing at the topmost level. When I started off, I only dreamt of playing for India. Once I reached that stage, it has always been about doing my best in the next game and so on. I feel we should never stop dreaming, it motivates us to achieve more.
You turn a year younger in June. So the IPL trophy would be a perfect birthday gift, right?
Absolutely! I think it’s our responsibility as professional players to repay the trust that the franchise has bestowed upon us. We have gotten to a great start but it’s very important to sustain this momentum over the course of the next couple of months. The team is in a good space right now. We are celebrating everyone’s performances and enjoying each other’s company. Hopefully, we will round it up with an IPL trophy at the end of the campaign!
Rahane’s fave
All-time favourite batsman: Rahul Dravid
A bowler you wouldn’t like to face: I would like to face all the greats of the game
If not a cricketer: A karateka
Favourite actor: Aamir Khan
Favourite Bengali dish: Aloo Posto