IND vs AFG 2018: Ajinkya Rahane looking forward to lead India again in Tests

Ajinkya Rahane led India for the first time against Australia in Dharamshala Test last year.

Ajinkya Rahane | AFP

Ajinkya Rahane is all set to lead India against Test debutants Afghanistan in the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli at Bengaluru from June 14.

While Kohli is currently going through the rehabilitation period after suffering a neck injury during the IPL, Rahane is gearing up for the challenge fill season in which India is scheduled to tour England and Australia.  

In an exclusive interview with Times of India, Rahane recently said: “I’m looking forward to it. After the IPL, it’s almost like a start of a season so there is so much to look forward to. There are processes to be put in place on the personal front, responsibilities to be carried out (as captain in the one-off game).”

When India had announced their playing XI for the first two Tests against South Africa earlier this year, there was one notable omission in the list. Rahane, who has scored runs at an average of 69.66 in his last South Africa tour back in 2013-14, was left out from the team at the expense of Rohit Sharma and it didn’t take long for cricket experts and fans to question the move.

The murmur concerning Rahane’s exclusion amplified even more with the world No. 1 Test side conceding an unassailable 2-0 lead to the Proteas. Nonetheless, Ajinkya was brought back in the third Test at Wanderers and the classy right-hander proved his mettle by playing a glorious knock of 48 on a treacherous wicket.

Talking about his knock in the Johannesburg Test that India eventually won by 63 runs, Rahane said: “Two matches down in a three-match series and you get a wicket like that, you’re up against the wall and the only way out is a fightback, it’s how you react to the situation. Absolute positive intent alone begins to matter and that’s exactly what helped us pull off that win. On a personal front, it was immensely satisfying.”

“It’s great that I got an opportunity on a wicket like that one. I knew I was batting really well in the nets. I could feel it. Normally you do have an idea about your game but on a wicket like that, it's your guts that count. When the ball goes from right next to your helmet or even if you’re sitting in the dressing room and watching your teammates bat in similar conditions, it’s very easy for someone to start thinking a bit negatively. But in that Test, on that wicket, every batsman in the team was like ‘ok, right now I want to go out there on that wicket in this kind of a situation’. That’s exactly how even my mind was thinking too. Even a century in a different scenario would probably not give me the kind of joy that 48 did,” he explained.

Following the Afghanistan Test, Team India will head off for the England tour where they will play three T20Is and as many ODIs before featuring in a five-match Test series from August 1.

Speaking about the challenging England tour, Ajinkya stated: “When you play overseas, it's that attitude which matters, more than your skills. Skill-wise, most cricketers are more or less similar. What probably adds notches to a team's overall performance is the intent with which you approach a game.”

The Mumbaikar also feels five-match Test series would be advantageous for them as it will give them an opportunity to bounce back if they don’t start it on a positive note.

“It gives you an opportunity to come back into the contest. South Africa is a classic example. The contest would’ve been completely a different one moving forward from the Wanderers Test. But a five-Test series has other challenges too. For example, it is important to remain fresh throughout the series. The start is always important but carrying that momentum till the very end is equally crucial. The mind should not get tired. That’s the key,” Rahane concluded.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 03 Jun, 2018

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