India needs to win or draw the fourth Test against England to qualify for the WTC final on June 18 at Lord's.
Team India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, while talking about playing the final of the inaugural edition of ICC World Test Championship, said that Winning the Test championship will be equal to winning the World Cup.
The four-match Test series between India and England stands at 2-1 and Team India is only one step away to book a berth in the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship as they have to win or draw the last Test match against visitors.
Before the start of the third Test, which India won by 10 wickets, lanky Indian pacer Ishant Sharma was asked about playing the final of the World Test Championship to which he replied that being a Test specialist, winning the championship would be equal to winning the World Cup for him.
IND v ENG 2021: “World Test Championship is like World Cup for me,” says Ishant Sharma
However, while addressing the press conference before the fourth Test match, Ajinkya Rahane was asked the same.
Replying to which Rahane agreed with Ishant Sharma and admitted that winning the World Test Championship is equivalent to winning the World Cup and added that the hosts are at present concentrating on the fourth Test against England,
"Absolutely, Ishant was spot on in what he said. Winning the WTC is equal to winning the World Cup. We are all focusing on that. Having said that, the focus right now is to play the fourth Test against England. Ishant was completely right," Ajinkya Rahane said during a virtual press conference.
Rahane said that Team India hasn’t played that many games in the last two-three years in India and added that playing on spinning or seaming tracks means you have to play the line.
"When you play on spinning tracks, you have to play the line. In India, we haven't played so many games in the last two-three years. When you play on spinning and seaming wickets, it's all about playing the line," he said.
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Ajinkya Rahane further said that backing their ability to defend on the seaming and spinning wicket is something, Team India has followed.
"When the ball is spinning too much, you do not have to think about it, you just have to play the line, if you miss the ball, you miss the ball. Backing your defense and ability on seaming and spinning wicket is something we follow," said Ajinkya Rahane.
Ajinkya Rahane who has only one fifty-plus score and has struggled in the ongoing series would look to set the stage in the fourth and final Test match against England which will take place on 4th March at Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad.
(ANI inputs)