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'With the World Cup coming up, I'm looking forward to bat at No 4'
Ajinkya Rahane played the role of opener in the Asia Cup match against Afghanistan, but wants to perform well in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup while batting at number four, a position he finds more challenging.
Rahane scored 56 runs and added 121 runs with fellow-opener Shikhar Dhawan in an easy chase of 160 against the minnows of the game.
"As an opener, you get first 10 overs and new ball. I like to back my instincts and play my shots. At No 4, sometimes situation is like 30 for 2 or 40 for 2, and sometimes it's like 120 or 150-2.
"You have to play under different situations when you bat at No 4. It's very crucial to rotate the strike and play your shots, back your instincts. No 4 is really a challenging position," Rahane told reporters.
"In T20 and domestic, I used to open. I am learning a lot at No 4. With World Cup coming up, I'm looking forward to this challenge," he added.
'It always feels good when you score runs'
Pakistan's victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday had sealed India's fate in the Asia Cup, before Virat Kohli's team could sign off with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Afghanistan, with 106 balls to spare, in Wednesday's dead rubber.
Hailing the bowlers' effort in bundling out Afghanistan for a paltry 159, Rahane said: "It always feels good when you score runs, but we're obviously disappointed that could not qualify.
"Overall, we played two close games. Credit goes to the bowlers. It's not easy to bowl in these conditions.
"Especially, I want to mention the bowlers, [Amit] Mishra, [Ravindra] Jadeja, [Ravichandran] Ashwin, and then Bhuvenshwar [Kumar] and [Mohammed] Shami all bowled very well. The credit goes to them."
'Playing under Virat is also a good experience'
Rahane said the team missed skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but added that stand-in skipper Virat Kohli did a great job.
"Playing under Virat is also a good experience. He's doing well in all formats. He's also learning a lot from Dhonibhai. He did really well. He really handed the team well.
"Also, we missed Dhonibhai; his experience as captain we missed."
The team will fly out of Bangladesh on Thursday before returning to Bangladesh for the World Twenty20 in less than a fortnight.
Rahane said their experience in the country has prepared them well for the WT20.
"We are looking forward obviously. We really learnt a lot from the two tours in New Zealand and South Africa and here. As a team we played really well. Obviously, we did not win, but, as a young unit, we approached every game very well.
"The attitude was good. That's what matters. Happy that the boys are putting in effort. I'm happy for that!"