He opens the batting for India currently, but Ajinkya Rahane may not be seen at No.1 or No.2 spot in the batting order in the next ODI series against England. He is also an excellent slip fielder and is the perfect foil for R. Ashwin in Tests. In fact, Rahane also holds the record for most catches (8) in a Test match, but when it comes to white ball, the same fielder stands in slips, inside the 30-yard-circle and patrols the boundary in death overs. Being rigid and sticking to a spot is not what Rahane believes in, be it batting or fielding. The 28-year-old has looked to fulfill the team’s requirement, which is evident from the numbers. In the 69 ODIs that he has played, Rahane has opened the batting on 39 occasions and batted at No. 4 in 20 matches. It is therefore not easy to replicate the same staggering figures he has in Test cricket – Average of 51.37 with eight centuries and nine fifties – into the 50-over format owing to his flexible batting role. Rahane, who sets high standards for himself now wants to take his ODI performance a notch higher. The Mumbai batsman shared his thoughts in an interview with BCCI.TV. Just recently you batted at No. 5 in the Test matches and now open the batting in ODIs. You always look to fulfill the team’s requirement. I have always believed that you need to adjust as per the situation. At the highest level, you need to make that mental adjustment. I bat in the middle-order in the Tests and ODIs too, but now I am opening and what is important when doing it, is your mindset. You need to realize what the priority is at that moment. I don't think too far ahead. I try to focus on what the situation is at present. Now, my focus is to play the role of an opener to the best of my ability and help the team. As an individual, my goal is to see how much I can contribute to the team and how consistently I can do it. Your batting was more about timing. But we have seen that you can now clear the ropes and the shots hit off the bottom hand travel quickly to the fence. Did you specifically work on adding more power behind your strokes? We spend time on power training. If you look at me, you may feel I don't have power, but as a kid, I have practiced karate. For a batsman, the core needs to be strong and power and stability helps you in that. You need not look strong, but you need to be strong. On a travel day, your body does not let you hit the gym again, but that's when your mind comes into play. If you can convince yourself, you can still get better even if you are good. You come to know how tough you are mentally when you have control over your mind and if it can make your body push for that extra mile. If you want to play at the international level for 10-15 years and want to dominate the opposition, then you need to be very fit. You can take breaks if you only want to play and not dominate. It is rare that a slip fielder also fields outside the circle. As fielding coach R. Sridhar calls it, you’re a multi-specialist fielder. I have enjoyed fielding at different positions right from my club cricket days. When you are fielding, what is important is anticipation. When I stand in slips, I need to manage my ability to concentrate for long hours. In ODIs, you need to be in the circle and even at the boundary. During our fielding sessions, we get together and enjoy as a team. When you save 10-20 runs, it helps the team. I field at different positions and always look to improve. How would you analayse your ODI career? I think I can be more consistent. I am batting well. I have been getting starts and batting with rhythm. I think it is a matter of just one good inning and I believe that inning is not too far away. I have belief in my abilities. I have batted well in the last 2-3 series and scored runs. Now that I am batting as an opener, my role is to build a foundation for the team and build a partnership. If I am opening, I would like to be a match-winner going forward.