Ben Stokes and Ajinkya Rahane were colleagues at Rising Pune Supergiant for the 2017 Indian Premier League season. The team paid Rs 14.5 crores to get Stokes at the auction on February 20. Rahane, who was in his second season, was already on the team.
During their time together in the IPL, Stokes gave Rahane advice on how to handle the psychological aspects of the game, particularly with regard to utilising social media during competitive phases. Rahane thought about this suggestion and how it affected his everyday routine. “When the series is on, I delete all the social media apps.”
However, nobody tells us to, and that’s simply what I tell myself. When we played together in the IPL in 2017, Ben Stokes told me not to use social media. Once I was in my room, establishing a routine helped me deal with things on my own. Rahane stated on the Stick to Cricket podcast, “Just things like watching something on Netflix or some other app, reading a book, talking to family, and ironing my clothes for the next day.”
How Rahane manages his internet identity while on tour
Rahane has developed a systematic plan for keeping up his internet presence while on tour. Because he relies on his team to handle the administrative aspects of social media, he is able to maintain focus without getting sidetracked by constant notifications and comments.
“Everything is managed by my team. I usually send them the photo of whatever I have to upload, and they will send it back to me if it has to be authorised.
During tours, this was incredibly helpful to me. When you do well and see all the comments, there’s a desire to log into these apps. However, what people say about you is only fleeting,” Rahane remarked.
The batter’s approach demonstrates a deeper understanding of the potential effects of outside noise on performance and mental health during rigorous cricket schedules.
By creating routines that keep him engaged in activities apart from social media, Rahane has found a way to stay focused during series and contests. Stokes’ advice stressed the need of managing one’s environment and mindset during competitive stages, drawing from the shared experience of competing at the highest levels of the sport.
