'Thanks Rahul Bhai, but there can be only one Wall', says Ajinkya Rahane

Mumbai: India batsman Ajinkya Rahane today thanked former captain Rahul Dravid for the encomiums showered on him yesterday, but insisted he cannot be compared to “The Wall.” “It is a big compliment coming from Rahul bhai. It gives me motivation and inspiration to do well and work harder. For me the process is important, not the result. Over the last two years I have been doing that,” said Rahane at a promotional event for his IPL team Rajasthan Royals here today. [caption id=“attachment_2192523” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Ajinkya Rahane in action for RR during IPL. BCCI[/caption] “I feel that Rahane has been the most successful Indian Test batsman in the last one year. We played four overseas tours in the last one year and his performance was very good in all these four tours,” Dravid said yesterday. “Some players performed in one or two series but Rahane was one player, who performed well in all the four series,” the Rajasthan Royals ‘mentor’ said of Rahane, who has scored Test centuries in New Zealand, England and Australia. Responding to what was indeed very high praise, Rahane said, “There was always one wall, and there will always be only one. I don’t think I can take his place. There is only one ‘Wall’ in India and that is Rahul Dravid.” On the Royals’ dip in form after a great start in the IPL, where they are facing a do-or-die situation against title holders Kolkata Knight Riders tomorrow at the Brabourne Stadium, Rahane said it was due to the nature of T20 cricket. “In T20, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It’s important to play good cricket, and I feel we are doing that really well this year. It’s just about one game, if we win this, we’re through. So it’s just about playing good cricket on 16th,” he said. “Throughout this season everyone has contributed really well and I’m sure everyone will do well on 16th. We are not looking for any result. It’s important to give your best on the field, it’s important to follow the process. If we play our best cricket, I’m sure we will qualify” added Rahane. Rahane said though the Knight Riders had a well-balanced team, his team was focusing on its own strengths. “KKR is a balanced team, every player is equally dangerous and important. We are not thinking too much about KKR, we are just looking to back our strengths.” “We focus on our game rather than what other teams are doing. The simpler you keep things, the better it is for you. We watched how KKR played. We are prepared well for this, had a good session yesterday too,” he answered when asked about yesterday’s game in which Mumbai Indians defeated KKR by five runs to keep their qualifying hopes alive. PTI