Star India batter Ajinkya Rahane has said that his sole focus during his entire career has been to play cricket and go back home and although people tell him to be in the news to stay relevant, he doesn't have a PR team, with his only publicity being his cricket. Rahane has been out of the Indian team for 20 months now, and there aren't many chances that he will make a comeback to the Test side.

Rahane has said that he is fit enough to compete at the highest level, is passionate and loves cricket. He will be leading Mumbai's charge in the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Vidarbha from Monday.

Rahane said that he is just trying to give his all to his domestic team in India's premier domestic tournament and the only goal is to make a comeback to the Indian team.

"I was always shy, now I have opened up. My focus has been to play cricket and go home. Nobody told me that going ahead, certain things would be needed. Today also, sometimes I feel ki bus cricket khelo, ghar jao. Now I am told I need to speak up and talk about my hard work," Rahane said while speaking to The Indian Express.

"People say you need to be in the news, I don’t have a PR team, my only PR is my cricket. I have now realised that staying in the news is important. Otherwise, people think that I’m out of the circle," Rahane added.

The star India batter played two crucial knocks in the World Test Championship final in 2023 but wasn't named in the squad that toured South Africa for two Tests. With the likes of Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel now mainstays in the team at No. 5, there is hardly any chance Rahane will be named again.

"Tests. There is still fire and passion in me. I’m playing Ranji Trophy at the moment, trying to give my all to the Mumbai team. The goal is clear to make another comeback. When I was dropped a few years ago, I made runs and was picked for the World Test Championship final and then was dropped again," Rahane said.

"But what is in my control? To play," the star India batter added.

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