Ajinkya | Indian World Cup Squad | 2015

In an era when batsmen are using their willow like sledge-hammer, Ajinkya Rahane is an anachronism of the pristine past. There is a sense of nostalgia seeing him bat as he caresses the ball with timing and finesse, taking one to the joys of a bygone past. The influence of Rahul Dravid his role model and mentor at Rajasthan Royals is unmistakable in the two qualities that are quite evident when he is at the batting crease: putting a huge value on his wicket and showing monk-like patience while growing roots at the wicket. His gluttonous appetite for runs, which put him on a pedestal in terms of batting averages in the history of First-Class cricket, opened the doors for international cricket. On international debut, in a T20 at Manchester in 2011, he impressed with an innings of 61. After being in and out of the team for a long time, Rahane made his Test debut in 2013 against Australia. Thanks to his footwork and ability to handle chin music , Rahane was more impressive than most Indian batsmen during the tour to South Africa in 2013.He then scored his first Test century against New Zealand at Wellington early next year. Like Dravid, Rahane is very dignified in his conduct on and off the field and has stood out as a great ambassador of Indian cricket.