Ex-India skipper Ajinkya Rahane has offered his perspective on the national team’s forthcoming two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, scheduled to start on August 15. The veteran middle-order player, who recently hung up his boots from the international arena, feels that Indian batsmen must adopt an assertive approach and employ a well-defined plan to tackle the home team’s bowlers.
The Indian team is set to contest the two matches in Galle and Colombo, aiming to consolidate their standing in the World Test Championship (WTC) table. Anticipating that the hosts will lay out turn-friendly pitches, Rahane highlighted how vital it is for India’s batting lineup to remain aggressive instead of letting the local spinners dominate the play.
Ajinkya Rahane advises Indian batsmen to take the initiative
During a conversation with PTI, Rahane looked back on his own outings in red-ball cricket on Sri Lankan soil, detailing the reasons why Indian batters must take the fight to their opponents. The former skipper thinks that the team must keep an offensive outlook when facing the home side’s spin unit, while also having confidence in their own batting techniques.
“In my experience, the pitch on the opening day in Sri Lanka is usually quite batting-friendly. However, establishing dominance over the bowlers is crucial for a batter. That is my main takeaway from playing there. Defensive play won’t suffice; you need to be highly proactive since they are likely to offer turning tracks, and their spin department is quite capable. Besides, playing any side in their own backyard is always a formidable challenge,” Rahane remarked.
Furthermore, Rahane noted that touring Sri Lanka continues to be a tough assignment for away sides, pointing out that Australia is the sole nation to secure a Test series victory there in the past three years.
A vital test awaits the Indian team in Sri Lanka
This bilateral contest holds significant weight for India’s prospects in the WTC, where they currently occupy the fifth spot after securing victories in four out of nine encounters. A string of positive outcomes in their upcoming matches is essential to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive. Although India emerged victorious in their last two Test tours to Sri Lanka in 2015 and 2017, the present roster features very few players with red-ball experience in the island nation. In fact, KL Rahul stands as the sole batsman in the current lineup who was part of both those previous tour squads.
The visitors have commenced their warm-up preparations with a three-day warm-up fixture at the NCC Ground in Colombo. On a flat batting surface, the local side posted 358/8 on day one, a match in which Shubman Gill sat out due to a slight injury to his left thumb. With the opening Test set to commence in Galle on August 15, the Indian team will aim to adjust rapidly to the local environment and implement Rahane’s recommendations on the field.
