India vs England 2021: “We are focusing only on this series and not on World Test Championship final,” says Ajinkya Rahane
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Ajinkya Rahane
The four-match Test series between India and England begins on the 5th of February with the first Test in Chennai. The hosts will be full of confidence and raring to go after their stunning series victory in Australia. The visitors are also not in bad form at the moment as they are coming off the back of a whitewashing of Sri Lanka 2-0. Apart from the pride of a series win, a place at the World Test Championship final is also at stake.
India need to win the series by any margin other than a 1-0 in order to secure their place in the final which will be against New Zealand at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. England need to win at least 3 matches to qualify for the final and in case of any other result other than the aforementioned, Australia would make their way to the final to meet their trans-Tasman neighbors. The upcoming series is thus, of huge importance.
‘Virat Kohli is the captain and I am the vice-captain’
India will be captained by the returning Virat Kohli in the series after the ace batter left for India during the series against Australia for the birth of his first child. Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane had stood in for him and done a commendable job by leading India to the series win. Rahane spoke to the press in a virtual conference about the upcoming series and the scenario to qualify for the WTC final.
“See right now we are just focusing on this series and on this first Test here in Chennai. World Test Championship finals are still three-four months away, New Zealand played really well and they deserve to be playing the finals of the World Test Championship. We are playing against England now, it is all about taking it one game at a time. England is a very good team, we have to play good cricket, we will see what happens after this series,” said Rahane according to ANI.
Talking about captain Virat Kohli, he said, “Virat (Kohli) is the captain. He left from Australia for family reasons that is why I became the captain. Originally Virat is the captain and I am the vice-captain. So I am really happy that he is back with us. Which is really positive. As a team, we are trying to play as a unit and together as well as to our strengths. My job is to take a backseat and then help out Virat whenever required, whenever he asks me for certain things I will help him. I generally take the backseat when I am the vice-captain. You have to visualise situations, think about what can happen in the game and if the captain asks you for suggestions then you should be ready,” he added.
The first Test begins on the 5th of February and will take place behind closed doors in Chennai.
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Nevin Clinton
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