Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane recently shared insights into his partnership with Virat Kohli, highlighting their strong camaraderie and the factors that contributed to their successful Test collaborations. Rahane also spoke about Kohli’s approach to white-ball run-chases, noting that Kohli kept his specific strategies private.
Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, discussed these details on the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast. He mentioned that Kohli’s ability to take calculated risks at opportune moments was key to his success in white-ball cricket, a trait Rahane compared to MS Dhoni.
Kohli’s unique chasing formula
According to Rahane, Kohli’s exceptional performance in white-ball run-chases stemmed from his mental calculations, which he did not share with teammates. Rahane stated that despite his attempts to learn these ‘secrets’, Kohli never revealed his precise methods.
Alastair Cook, a former England captain, also commended Kohli’s distinct approach to chasing targets. Kohli is widely recognized for his ability to guide India to victory in high-pressure situations in limited-overs matches, a reputation built on consistent performance over more than 15 years.
Kohli holds the record for the highest number of centuries in successful One Day International run chases, having reached three figures 22 times in victories while batting second. This achievement surpasses Sachin Tendulkar, who has 14 hundreds in winning chases, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who finished his career with eight.
A formidable Test partnership
Rahane and Kohli formed a highly productive partnership in Test cricket, becoming India’s fifth-most prolific pair in the format. They accumulated 3,661 runs across 67 innings, maintaining an average of 56.32. Their collaboration included 10 century stands and 17 half-century stands.
One notable partnership was a 365-run stand against New Zealand in 2016, which stands as the fifth-highest partnership by an Indian pair in Tests and the best for the fourth wicket by an Indian duo. Rahane attributed their success to their complementary styles, with Kohli’s aggressive nature balanced by Rahane’s calm approach.
Rahane recalled that Kohli encouraged him to play his natural attacking game. He also noted that Kohli enjoyed confronting opposition bowlers and would often seek Rahane’s confirmation before engaging in verbal exchanges. Their strong camaraderie extended off the field, where they frequently discussed cricket.
Rahane’s international career included 85 Test matches, where he scored 5,077 runs with 12 centuries and 26 fifties. In 90 ODIs, he made 2,962 runs with 3 centuries and 24 fifties. He also featured in 20 T20 Internationals, scoring 375 runs with one fifty. Across 195 international matches, Rahane scored a total of 8,414 runs with 15 centuries and 51 fifties.
Kohli’s mindset, characterized by what Rahane described as ‘fearless calculation’, is considered a key factor in his consistent performance under pressure. This mental strength allows him to make crucial decisions during chases, a quality that distinguishes him from many other batters.
Rahane emphasized that Kohli’s ability to understand when and how to execute his strategies is what makes him special. His chasing average remains significantly higher than his overall career average, indicating a unique capability when batting second.
Rahane’s comments provide a glimpse into the dynamic between two prominent figures in Indian cricket, highlighting both their on-field synergy and Kohli’s distinctive mental approach to the game.
Rahane concluded his international career with a best score of 188.
Source: m.rediff.com
