Ajinkya Rahane Cricketer
Ajinkya Rahane (born 5 June 1988, in a Maratha family, Maharashtra) is an Indian international cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman, who represents India in international competitions. Rahane represents Mumbai in domestic competitions and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. He is one of the only 11 players to have scored more than 1000 runs in a single Ranji Trophy season. He has a sound technique and is versatile in his stroke making. His well timed drives, lofted shots and late cuts reinforce the orthodox style of play in which power is not the only factor in scoring quick runs. Ajinkya Rahane is an exciting top-order batsman who bats at No. 3, and was a crucial factor in Mumbai's 38th title win. He progressed through the Mumbai ranks and has also been a part of the Indian U-19 team and the India 'A'. Ajinkya Rahane has also turned out for India Blue & Green in the Challenger Series, and West Zone in the Duleep Trophy. His wonderful Ranji season followed an impressive showing in the 2007-08 Duleep Trophy, where he scored 172 against an England Lions attack comprising Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Steve Kirby and Liam Plunkett. He continued to impress in domestic cricket, scoring three hundreds each in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons of the Ranji Trophy. As of 27 December 2010, he averaged a high 69.01 in first-class cricket, which currently places him 4th on the list of all-time highest first class batting averages. Two centuries in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia brought him a place in the India ODI squad for the tour of England in 2011. He made his T20 debut on August 31, 2011 against England and made 61 runs on his debut. In the very next match, he made his ODI debut, too, against England. He was a part of the Indian Test squad that toured Australia in 2011-12, however he did not get a Test cap.