People don’t respect the job Rahane does, says Fleming
Apart from the star players on both sides who will battle it out at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, there will be extra interest around Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane. Playing for Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant, respectively, they are the only two Mumbai boys who have been regulars in the India team in recent times.
The IPL season, though, has been anything but satisfactory for them. After starting with a 60 in the opening game against Mumbai Indians, Supergiant opener Rahane has scores of 19, 10, 0, 30 and two, while in seven matches (six innings) so far, an unbeaten 40 is Rohit Sharma’s highest score, his next best being five runs.
Both will be desperate to break the rut in Monday’s game at their original home ground, the Wankhede. Especially Rahane, whose lack of runs would hamper his chances for selection in the Champions Trophy squad.
Supergiant coach Stephen Fleming felt Rahane’s issues were on account of being too eager to do well. “I could tell him a lot but the answer comes from within. He played well against Mumbai with the extra pace on the ball. I think maybe too eager to do well,” observed Fleming.
The former New Zealand opener added that it looked to be a case of Rahane looking to “push those rumours aside and prove a point”. “So, you end up going outside your natural rhythm. What he does when he’s batting normally is good enough. But it’s almost as if he feels the need to do more because people don’t respect the job that he does. It’s just that confidence to stay natural, that’s the message. But it’s hard, once the blood is boiling in the first six overs. All opening batsmen have that anxiety to get underway. So, quite simply, be calm and natural, and play like he can.
“That’s going to be his challenge in one-day cricket. He does it enough, but an unfair label has been placed on him of not being quick enough. You still need players who can anchor the innings, and he’s certainly our anchor that we need ” added Fleming he has struggled against leg-spinners. He has not been done-in by the googly and in the last game, he failed to get in a good position for the stroke against Amit Mishra.
Fleming said they also had the leg-spinners to target Rohit’s weakness this season. “We have got three leggies — Zampa, Tahir and Rahul Chahar — and we have got a selection option but we a team just for one player. But i will be considered. If you have any chance to get Rohit Sharma out cheaply, you will certainly look at it as that is one of the keys to the Mumbai side. That will defi nitely be part of our discussion whether we can afford the luxury of carrying two... we will defi nitely have one. But certainly looking at two will be one of the