Prior to the first Test of the upcoming two-match home Test series against Windies, Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane praised the new cricketers Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal and Mohammed Siraj.
As Rahane knows Shaw very well, he is feeling happy to see the 18-year-old Mumbai cricketer has been selected in the Test squad.
Talking about Shaw, Rahane said, “I am happy for Shaw. I have seen him since his young days, we used to practice together, he is an attacking opener and done well for India A and got the reward.”
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However, Rahane hasn’t revealed that who is going to make his Test debut in the first Test but also added that there is no pressure for them.
Rahane said, “Personally we don’t know the combination what we are going to play. But there is no pressure, it is an opportunity for every individual to express ourselves. I wish him good luck and I am sure he will do well. I just want him to play as he has been doing for Mumbai and India A and I think he will be fine.
“It is a good opportunity, particularly for youngsters like Prithvi, Mayank and Siraj as they have all done well in domestic cricket. So as a batsman they can score runs, as a bowler they can pick wickets. It is all about going out there and giving your best without thinking much about future.”
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While Rahane had a disappointing tour in England, he showed some good performances in the recent domestic cricket after returning from England. Recently, playing for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-over domestic format), Rahane played the 79* and 148 runs knocks.
Rahane feels confident after some good knocks in the recent domestic crickets as he believes that he can continue this form in the upcoming home Test series.
Rahane said, “After coming back from England, I was just looking to do well for Mumbai at that point of time and get some match practice (although it was white-ball cricket) ahead of the West Indies series. Vijay Hazare was a good match practice for me.
“I always believe whether it is a domestic, international or practice match, it brings a different pressure and I think it helped me to prepare. I am really confident and looking forward to do well and keep contributing towards my team.”
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The first Test of two-match Test series against Windies will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium (Rajkot) that will begin from October 4. Despite it is India’s home ground, Rahane said they have to adopt the unfamiliar conditions quickly before the game.
Rahane said, “Here we have to see how the wicket behaves, it is hot here, so we have to adapt to the conditions quickly during the practice sessions. We know the Indian conditions and we know how to go about our job and what shots to play here. England was different, so we will have to quickly mentally switch.
“Each and every match is equally important and we are just looking to play to our standards, rather than thinking about our opponents. It is important to start off well, we have two practice sessions before the Test match starts.”
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Rahane feels great on Indian cricket team’s recent victory in the Asia Cup 2018 in UAE but wants to focus to improve the personal games to assure dominated cricket against any opponents.
Rahane said, “It was a great achievement to win Asia Cup and the players who got an opportunity there did well, but this is a new series and we can’t take them lightly. We have to focus to improve our own game.
“No matter whom we play, whether it is Australia, England or West Indies, it is important to improve our own standard. Our goal will be to play some good cricket, definitely to dominate from the first match and improvement as a batsman, as a bowler and as a team, that would be the focus.”
