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'Hopefully, India can win the remaining ODIs'

Talented Ajinkya Rahane has captured everyone's imagination with his confident batting in the ODIs but unlike his expressive batting, he is a young man with few words.

"I would try to do my best in the remaining three ODIs and hopefully India can win," stated Rahane, adding he has no fitness worries ahead of the game. 

Rahane sprained his ankle during the second ODI at Southampton the other night but by all accounts, the young right-hander is ready to open again for India in the day-night game on Friday.

'I learnt as I went along'

The Mumbai opener made 40 and 54 in the first two ODIs and looks undeterred by the reputation of England bowlers who scythed the famous Indian batting line-up in Tests. 

"I had done no preparations before coming here. Initially, I was nervous.

"But I learnt as I went along. Everyone in the dressing room was good enough to boost me.

"Seniors such as Sachin and Dhoni asked me to play as I am used to without worrying too much about the opposition and conditions."

Rahane has a formidable first-class record and averages 67 in batting. In the four years that he has been around in domestic cricket, he credits former Mumbai coach Praveen Amre a lot for his style of batting.

'Tendulkar, Dravid are my favourite batsmen'

Rahane's batting has been delightful so far and former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar is particularly impressed with his balance and footwork while executing attacking strokes.

Of all the England bowlers, Rahane rates James Anderson and Stuart Broad as very good but when it comes to batsmen, the two stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are his favourites. 

"I have found both Anderson and Broad as very good. But as far as my favourite batsmen go, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid top the list." 

Rahane joined the squad after it was known that regular opener Virender Sehwag would return home as he hasn't sufficiently recovered from his ear injury.