“Let the Australians play mind games” – Ajinkya Rahane makes a statement ahead of second Test
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Ajinkya Rahane might not be expressive or an extrovert like Virat Kohli but the batsman sure knows how to give it back to the opposition on and off the field. Earlier, Australia head coach Justin Langer had said that he would like to put some pressure on the Indian stand-in captain during the Test series between India and Australia. Ajinkya Rahane has responded saying he would let them them play mind games as he focuses on his team and it’s individuals.
Rahane added that the opposition is very good at playing mind games. “Australians are very good at playing mind games and I will let them do that. We are focussing on ourselves, what we want to do as a unit and we are going to back our every individuals,” Rahane said on the eve of the Boxing Day Test match.
He was very clear that he own’t take any additional pressure of captaincy and would make the most of the opportunity. “It is a proud moment for me leading India, obviously it is a great opportunity, responsibility as well but I don’t want to take any pressure,” he said. “I think what I want to do is back my team. So focus is not on me, it is all about team and how we want to do well as a team. We are focussing on that,” the middle-order batsman added.
‘Virat Kohli spoke to all of us’
India skipper Virat Kohli returned home for his paternity leave after the Adelaide Test. However, the fiery captain met his team mates before going.
“Yeah, Virat spoke to all of us, before leaving. We had our team dinner in Adelaide, so he spoke to all of us about staying in the moment, playing for each other and yeah enjoying each other’s success and help each other out on the field,” Ajinkya Rahane said.
India suffered a humiliating loss in the Adelaide Test. The team could only score 36/9 in the second innings handing Australia a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. But Virat Kohli advised his team to look at the positives of the match. “Talking about last Test match, see comparatively we had two good days, just one bad hour, where we actually lost it completely,” Rahane said.
“The chat was all about backing ourself as an individual and as team, play to our strengths and whatever we have planned in the first Test match just stick to that,” he added.
The Boxing Day Test match will begin on 26 December at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Ira Deokule
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