India’s stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane opened up on the run-out of Virat Kohli in the opening match of the four-Test series at Adelaide Oval. Kohli, who was batting on 74 in the first innings and was on the runner-up end, was involved in a mix-up that resulted in his dismissal that proved to be a turning point of the game for the visitors.
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Team India lost wickets from there on and was eventually bowled out for 244 in the first innings.
The right-hander further added that one bad hour of cricket cost them the match in Adelaide that they had fought so well in the first two days.
“In the last Test match, we had good two days, just one bad hour where we actually lost it completely but the chat after that was all about backing ourselves as individuals and as a team and play to our strengths and whatever we had planned in the first Test match just stick to that,” Rahane told Media on Friday.
Ajinkya Rahane, who had led the Indian side to a nerve-wracking victory against Australia in the must-win Test at Dharamsala in 2017, said that the team would stick to the basics and back their plan for the MCG Test.
“From the 2017 Test, I learned about backing your instincts as a captain and remaining calm under pressure. So, I think my thought is to just back my own methods which I ideally focus on. I learnt a lot from it,” said Rahane.
He added, “I am not focusing on myself but on the team. It is a proud moment for me to lead India. It is a great opportunity and responsibility as well. I don’t want to take any pressure. ”
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India had a forgettable first session on Day 3 of the Test match at Adelaide Oval wherein they lost wickets in quick intervals and were eventually bundled out for 36.
“Yes, we had one bad session. But we are playing well and are a good batting and bowling unit. I stay calm and cool but my batting is generally aggressive. I bat from my instincts. We will back our basics and back our plan. We just had one bad hour.
It is all about staying positive, backing own ability and batting in partnerships. Communication and batting in partnerships matters a lot. We are just focusing on that.”
Rahane, who usually bats at No 5, will look to bat up the order at No 4 and fill in the shoes of Virat Kohli both as a captain and batsman. On his involvement in Virat’s run-out on 74 in the first innings at Adelaide, Rahane said that was a tough moment considering they were well set and batting well against Australia’s bowling attack.
“It was really tough, we were going well at that moment. The partnership was going well and good. I could see the momentum going towards Australia. After the end of the day’s play, I said sorry to him. He was okay. He understood it, but such things happen in cricket and we have to respect it,” said the 32-year-old.
Virat Kohli asked all of us to stay positive: Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane added that the Indian cricket team met Virat at Adelaide before he flew back to India, wherein the latter talked about staying positive throughout, play by the strengths, and succeed as a team.
“We met Virat before he left Adelaide. We had our team dinner. He spoke to all the boys and said,’ just be yourselves, play your game as a team’. He asked all of us to stay positive, play to our strength and just play as a team and as a unit. That is what we were doing all the year, it is all about that. All about the strength, playing for each other, enjoying each other’s success.”
India will lock horns with Australia in the Boxing Day Test in MCG and aim to level the series 1-1.
