I want to play proper cricketing shots: Rahane

New Delhi, April 5 (IANS): Twenty20 is a format where cricketers come up with innovative shots to score quick runs but Rajasthan Royals batsman Ajinkya Rahane favours playing traditional cricketing shots to accumulate runs.

The dashing batsman, who recently made his Test debut in the fourth and final match against Australia, Friday said he wanted to emulate batting greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who have scored most of their runs playing conventional cricket.

“Every batsman has his own style. My style is to keep things simple. My idols are Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and they have been successful playing proper cricket shots. I have a gameplan and I will stick to it,” Rahane told reporters here.

Rajasthan open their campaign in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) against Delhi Daredevils Saturday and Rahane said the team wanted to end their dismal record of not winning a match at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

“I don’t look back at the past and try to live in the present. Obviously, I don’t want to repeat the mistakes that I have made earlier. The game against Delhi last year was disappointing as we lost by just one run. We have learnt from our past mistakes and are ready to start from scratch,” he said.

Rahane, who has played under greats like Shane Warne and Rahul Dravid, said their captaincy styles were very different.

“They (Warne and Dravid) are both legends but are entirely different captains. Rahul ‘bhai’ likes to keep things simple while leading the side, but Warne was always game about trying various new things. It was not as if he always expected it to work but he tried to experiment,” said Rahane.

“Personally speaking, I have learnt a lot from Shane (Warne). But both Rahul Dravid and Shane have been equally approachable.”