MUMBAI: Gearing up for the West Indies tour, stylish India batsman Ajinkya Rahane today said it will be important to start the challenging three-Test series on a positive note.
"This is actually my second time to West Indies, first time I was with India A team, but with the Indian team it is my first time and I am really excited about this tour. I'm looking forward and I have prepared myself really well," Rahane told reporters on sidelines of an event here.
"I am sure it will be challenging because West Indies is a decent team. We will give respect to them and it is important to start well in the series," he added.
Rahane, who was appointed as the vice-captain of the Test team, today joined hands with 'P&G Shiksha', P&G's flagship Corporate Social Responsibility programme, and unveiled the new impact numbers of the initiative.
The Indian team will be touring the Caribbean nation for a three-match Test series, with the first game beginning at North Sound, Antigua on July 21.
Asked about the role of a vice-captain, the right-handed batsman said, "It is a good responsibility as a vice-captain and I love facing challenges and love taking responsibility, so its not pressure, not added pressure but I think responsibility will bring best out of me."
"As you (the reporter) mentioned about the last Zimbabwe tour (in 2015, wherein he captained the ODI side),I really learnt a lot as a captain in Zimbabwe from my teammates, from opponents, and as a captain you know how to back your players, support your players, whatever happens as a captain, you have to take all the responsibility and I really learnt from that tour," he added.
Rahane recalled that he was "always a first bencher" in school and loved history as a subject.
"My favourite subject (in school) was history and maths (mathematics). I was OK in maths, but I like history and read a lot of books. So, history was my most favourite subject (in school)," the 28-year-old player quipped.
Asked whether he was a first or last bencher, Rahane said, "I was always a first-bencher."
For Ajinkya, his father is a superhero.
"My favourite superhero is my father. Since beginning I have looked upto my father, the way he brought me up, he told me importance of education (because) as a cricketer you play till 39-40 (years), but after that your education comes in handy. My superhero is my papa," he added.