NEW DELHI: Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane underscored the significance of granting players ‘freedom’ and ‘confidence.’ This comes as the Mumbai team was awarded Rs 1 crore by the Mumbai Cricket Association for their remarkable Irani Cup victory.
Rahane led Mumbai to end a 27-year drought in the tournament, securing a win against the Rest of India team based on the first-innings lead last week in Lucknow.
In addition to the BCCI’s prize of Rs 50 lakh, the MCA announced an additional Rs 1 crore at a felicitation ceremony on Monday, as revealed by MCA secretary Abhay Hadap.
“There is no secret to success. I am a firm believer of the thought that this game is not for individuals, there are 11 players playing and 4-5 are sitting outside. All the players are equally important,” Rahane said when discussing his leadership for both Mumbai and India.
“As a captain, it is important to give them freedom and confidence because every player in their own capacity is a match-winner. Every player has a responsibility. Those sitting outside can give such inputs which as a captain on the field might not think of,” he added.
India and Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan credited his unbeaten 222 runs to a promise he made to his younger brother Musheer, who had endured a road accident before the game. Musheer attended the ceremony with a neck support.
“I have learnt a lot at that level,” Sarfaraz said, referring to his brief experience in Test cricket earlier this year.
“I told him that if I cross fifty, I will make a 200 in which one hundred will be for you,” he said.
Shreyas Iyer, who scored an essential 57 runs in the first innings, highlighted the importance of team camaraderie.
“Every tournament (in which) we go forward, we look to create that sort of camaraderie and that relationship in the dressing room and the bond which we create is the result of all these trophies,” he said.
