Flamboyance is taken quite seriously by most members of the current Indian squad.

Yet, the Virat Kohli-led squad also comprises individuals like Ajinkya Rahane, who doesn’t fall in this bracket.

No wonder that the India Test vice-captain considers Rahul Dravid as his role model and feels training under him is the best possible way to get ready before a tough Test tour.

Having finished his County stint with Hampshire on July 16, Rahane has been training for around a week at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore under Dravid before the two-Test tour of the West Indies.

“I am doing my training and fitness in Bangalore. The reason being, it’s raining heavily in Mumbai, and I wanted to practise outdoors.

“So Bangalore is the best place as also is training under Dravid. I always follow him. He is one of my role models as well… Really happy that he is in Bangalore… I am working on the fitness aspect as well,” Rahane, who was present as a special guest for the Cricket Association of Bengal annual awards, said at the Netaji Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

It was learnt that Dravid’s advice to Rahane was to forget everything else around him, believe in himself, focus on his strengths and on playing long innings.

About the upcoming Tests against the Windies, who beat England in their last Test series at home, Rahane emphasised that Jason Holder and his men need to be shown and given the respect they deserve.

“We’re looking forward to and really excited about this Test series against the West Indies. We all know they are a dangerous and unpredictable team.

“For us, it’s important to respect them and play our game as we have been playing, especially in Test cricket. It is important to be at our best.

“As for me, I always focus on contributing for my team and I’m just going to do my best as well. That’s why I have been spending good time in Bangalore, focusing on my fitness and once we go to the Caribbean, I’ll try to give my 100 per cent,” he said.

With all these Test matches now being part of the World Test Championship, Rahane acknowledged that every game and series would attain “special” status, pushing players to follow their routines.

“Definitely, the World Test Championship is something we all are looking forward to. Every Test match and every Test series is really special now.

“I think the best thing about Test cricket is that you got to follow your routines everyday, day in day out… Get up early in the morning, follow your same routine… Whether you do well or get out early or even if you score a 100, you still have to go there and follow your routines continuously, and as I said, that’s really exciting about this Test Championship,” he explained.

Earlier during the function, Rahane spoke of his “favourite” No. 4 position, reminiscing his U-14 days, the hard work he put in and the sacrifices his family, especially his mother, made during his formative years.

He also urged budding cricketers to give due importance to club cricket.

“I have fond memories of Calcutta as I played my first game here for the U-14 West Zone team. During my childhood, I had played club cricket in Mumbai. I always believed that club cricket is stepping stone to achieve something bigger,” he said.