IND v ENG 2021: ‘I am sure it will turn from Day 1’, Ajinkya Rahane on Chepauk pitch for 2nd Test

Indian bowlers were found wanting during the 227-run defeat in the first Test at Chepauk.

Ajinkya Rahane | GettyIndia vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane reckons the Chepauk pitch will assist the spinner from the very first day of the second Test against England, starting February 13.

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Indian bowlers were found wanting during the 227-run defeat in the first Test at the same venue. However, it was a flat deck in which England won the toss and piled up 578 in the first innings to boss the game.

"Yeah, it looks completely different. I am sure it will turn from Day 1 but again as I have said before the first Test match, you have to wait and see how it plays in the first session and take it from there on," Rahane said at the virtual press conference on the eve of the second Test.

"...but yeah we have to forget what happened in the first Test. We know these conditions really well and we have to put our best foot forward tomorrow and yeah that's it," he added.

While Rahane hinted that Akshar Patel has regained full fitness and is now available for selection, he didn't reveal the playing XI.

"Everyone is in the mix and the good thing is Akshar is fit and I am not going to tell you who is going to play tomorrow. See all our spinners are really good and given a chance they will all do really well," the vice-captain stated.

He also defended the spinners' performance in the first Test.

"If you see the first two days, there was nothing for our spinners and fast bowlers. Considering we bowled 190 overs and they scored 578 runs, I thought we really bowled well.

"There was nothing on that wicket. If you see the second innings, all our spinners, especially Ashwin bowled really well. We are not too concerned about how our spinners are bowling and I am sure we will come out with a plan."

When asked about the no balls and dropped catches in the opening Test, Rahane said that the team is working hard to improve in both areas.

"We are really working hard on what we can control. In India, close-in catches are really important and sometimes these things happen. No one does it intentionally, it's all about how confident you are. Close in catches are really important."

"About, no balls, yes we all were disappointed about the no balls and they are working really hard."

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 12 Feb, 2021

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