Mumbai, Feb 20: Test hopeful Ajinkya Rahane is back as vice-captain of the Mumbai team for the domestic one-day series. “It’s another opportunity for him to get some runs and pile on the pressure on the guys who are playing for India,” Mumbai captain Ajit Agarkar believes.

Part of the Indian dressing room for the tour to England and Australia, and against the West Indies, the top-order batsman learnt the importance of mental preparation in taking one’s game to the next level. Backed by skipper MS Dhoni and senior Gautam Gambhir, the 23-year-old is looking to use the valuable tips he has received from veterans Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and coach Duncan Fletcher.

The persevering Mumbai batsman spoke to bcci.tv about the way forward after a net session here.

On sharing the dressing room with Team India seniors

I’ve learnt a lot from them [the seniors]. I consider Sachin paaji [Tendulkar] and Rahul paaji [Dravid] to be my role models. It was their fourth or fifth tour to Australia so they had a lot of experience [that I could learn from]. I discussed the conditions and the things to watch out for from a batsman’s point of view. I spoke to Sachin paaji [Tendulkar], Rahul bhai [Dravid], [VVS] Laxman bhai, [MS] Dhoni bhai. They told me that as an opening batsman [fending off] the new ball was crucial on those wickets but at the same time one’s mindset should be positive. They told me my main focus should be on playing a long innings.

On the way forward

My focus is on the one-day series – on the Vijay Hazare trophy. My effort is to take it match-by-match and help the team win; I am not thinking too far ahead. I’ll try to contribute as much as I can to the team.

On the time since the Emerging Players Tournament, 2011 where he was the highest run-getter

At that time also it was the off-season so I had only one thing on my mind ­– if I want to go to the next level, I have to step up and make some sacrifices, leave a few things behind and focus on cricket alone. I started practicing a month before but at that time I did not think I would be selected for the Emerging Players Tournament. So for just my preparation, I had started practicing and after 15 or 20 days the team was announced. I scored two centuries and one half-century there [in the Emerging Players Tournament]. So whatever preparation I had done, helped. Playing on Australian wickets was definitely a challenge. The Emerging Players Tournament was very important for me.

On his batting style

I am a positive player. I like to play positively but it is important how you read the situation. [...] Sometimes you have to defend and get the team out of [a difficult] situation. That is on my mind and the sooner I adapt to that, the better it will be for me in international cricket.

On the mental preparation involved in international cricket

How strong you are mentally is very important because the skill always remains the same. You always try to learn and improve your skills but at the next level it is important to be mentally ready; at that level you don’t always get runs easily. Sometimes you have to struggle to get the runs so the mental aspect is very important.

On playing alongside Gautam Gambhir

He had told me before the match [against England in India] that I was a good player and that I shouldn’t over-think my game. ‘Play your game, just watch the ball’, was his advice. The captain too believed I was a good player who should just back himself, so that helped.

On the tips from coach Duncan Fletcher

I have learnt a lot from him during the England, West Indies and the Australia series. [He talked about the] technical aspects of the game and how to prepare myself mentally. He told me a few things about batting on different wickets and how to adjust, so that was very important and will definitely help.

On whether the exposure to international cricketers during IPL helped when he made his international debut

Definitely. IPL gives you a lot of confidence but when you are playing for your country, the pressure is different, the atmosphere is different. There are international bowlers in the IPL so that confidence is there with you.

On Mumbai’s plan for the one-dayers and on the team missing him and Rohit Sharma during the Ranji Trophy

I don’t think [we were missed] because there are other good players in the team. We will try to win one match at a time and not set any long-term goals; we just want to stay in the present. We have a good team and a good combination so we will definitely give it our best shot.

On his preparations since he came back to the Mumbai team

I came back after the Test series and started practice from the very next day. At that time the Ranji Trophy practice was not on so for seven or eight days I was practicing by myself at BKC and the indoor academy. From the day that the [Mumbai team’s] practice started, I’ve been getting good practice here.

On the matches he has played since he came back from national duty

After I came back I played one company match for Indian Oil but the rest of the days I was practicing every day.

On the forthcoming Asia Cup and how his performance in the domestic one-day series would help him

I am not thinking about the selection for the Asia Cup. Every match here is very important to me and if I perform well for Mumbai and help the team win, then automatically I will be recommended.

On being Ajit Agarkar’s deputy

Ajit is a very senior player so as vice-captain I will try to learn how he captains the team and learn how to read the game better. New situations keep coming up so I will try and learn to handle them.

On the Mumbai team

We have a very good team. There are many youngsters and we have senior players, Wasim bhai [Jaffer] and Ajit. Their contribution is vital. We youngsters will try to learn from the two of them and give the team a good platform.