I like to bat out of my comfort zone, says Ajinkya Rahane

MUMBAI: Unfazed by the growing debate over the most suitable batting slot for him in the Test line-up, his customary number 5 or one-down where he batted in the last two Tests in Sri Lanka, Ajinkya Rahane says he relishes to bat outside his comfort zone.

"I take it as it comes. I really enjoyed batting at number three in Sri Lanka. I got a hundred there (at no. 3) and we won the (second) Test match," said the Mumbaikar in an interview to PTI here today.

"I am ready to do whatever the team management wants me to do. I like to bat out of my comfort zone. That's what actually gives me that high, that happiness, as it shows that the team management and captain have belief in me, that I can bat anywhere and whatever the situation is, I am there for the team," said the 18-Test-old Mumbaikar.

"That's a good sign for me as well as for the team that I can handle any situation and take the team out of any situation. I am not thinking too much about the batting position. I really enjoyed batting at no. 3 in Sri Lanka and I am completely agreeable to whatever the team suggests," he added, to try and put an end to the debate.

Rahane, who has become one of the team's middle-order mainstays, got a second innings century (126) at the P Sara Oval in Colombo batting at number three and India went on to defeat the hosts by 278 runs and draw level in the three-match series after losing the opener in Galle.

The Virat Kohli-led Indian outfit then produced yet another top-drawer performance and won the final Test at the SSC Ground in Colombo by 117 runs to clinch the rubber 2-1, their first overseas series win after 2011 in the West Indies and their first triumph in Lanka in 22 years.

Though he did not have as big a success with the bat in Lanka as he had in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia, Rahane was very happy that the team won the series coming from 0-1 down.

"I got one hundred and we won that Test match. I got out on 36 once. I wanted to contribute more but am happy that we won that Test series from 0-1 down," he said.