Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is gearing up for the first Test against Australia in Adelaide, which begins on December 17 onwards. He captained the Indian team in the two practice-games including the pink-ball match.
He scored a century in the first warm-up match, while had a good outing in the day-night encounter in SCG. Amidst this, Rahane is totally focused on the task at hand, while not concerned with his failures on the New Zealand tour.
The New Zealand Test series was the last that India played before the Covid-19 pandemic forced a stoppage in cricket and Rahane failed to get a single half-century in two Tests, both of which India lost.
"It is going to happen, these ups and downs. For me, I did well in 8 out of the last 10 Test matches which is good. In the lockdown, fitness and diet was my priority. After coming here, obviously, it was about getting used to the conditions and pitches...right now, I am getting into match zone," Rahane said on Tuesday.
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He instead pointed out his performances against West Indies and South Africa in 2019, where he scored five fifties and two hundreds in the six Tests.
He will bat at his usual number five at the Adelaide Oval, but will then captain the Indian side in the remainder of three Tests, as Virat Kohli will return to India on paternity leave for the birth of his first child.
He has some words about the challenges of batting at the no.5 position.
"When you bat at number 5 and 6, you read the situation and bat according to situations. For me it is all about playing with intent, play to the situation, and what the team demands in that situation. So I visualize that and play accordingly. The intent is not just about shots, it is also about defence and leaving the ball. I think a positive mindset is important. It is not like I decide every time to go out there and play my shots. Having that intent helps me a lot," Rahane said.
Talking about the practice sessions in Australia, Rahane said, “Practice sessions were good last one month, strength sessions, training sessions... Management planned it well…. quarantine was challenging, the first 14 days were challenging. Luckily we got practice sessions in the quarantine, preparation was good, got time to practice and plan well, do training and work on skills. The two practice games helped us well.”
(IANS inputs)
