Rahane's blistering 106 off 100 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes, set the seal on world champions India's crushing nine-wicket win over England at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
Victory gave India an unbeatable 3-0 series lead. For Rahane, opening in place of the injured Rohit Sharma, it also meant he'd reached three figures for the first time in 33 ODIs. And it was just what the 26-year-old Mumbai stroke-maker needed after twice falling in the 40s.
"I was batting well in the first two ODIs, but got out on 45 and 41," Rahane told reporters at Headingley, where the ODI series finale against England takes place today.
"That hurt me a lot because if you are batting so well in good conditions against this attack, if you get a big score it is good for my confidence and team morale.
"It hurt the team chances too that I was not converting my starts.
"After two 40s in the first two ODIs, and the way I got out, I was really hurt," Rahane explained.
"I couldn't sleep after the first game because the way I got out, stumped. It was a really silly mistake of mine. I was really determined in the third ODI," he concluded.
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