Ajinkya Rahane not worried about sledging from Australia in the upcoming series

Indian middle order batsman Ajinkya Rahane made it pretty clear ahead of the 4 match test series against Australia that they won’t be worried about sledging as they have plans for each and every Australian players and will be trying to play an attacking brand of cricket once the 1st Test in Pune starts on February 23.

India and Australia have been involved in several on-field banters and even before the series has started Aussie captain Steve Smith had made it pretty clear that they won’t shy away from sledging India. Opening batsman David Warner though indicated that they won’t sledge rival captain Virat Kohli who has been in sensational form off late across all three formats.

“We don’t know if they will sledge or not. We have some plans against each of them, I can’t discuss that here, skill wise or sledging wise, there is definitely a plan. We know that Australian players play mind games. Our aim would be to dominate them in every aspect,” Rahane was quoted as saying by Mumbai Mirror today.

“We will look to play positive cricket, attacking cricket not only against the spinners but all the bowlers. Practice game and the Test match is completely different, so we have to read the condition well and play according to the situation, that would be the key,” he added. Rahane also emphasised on the fact that India will be relying on their strengths rather than instead of thinking about the combination of the opposition team.

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“They are coming to India and will be expecting a turning track. So yes three fast bowlers and five spinners is their combination but for us it will be important to play to our potential and not focus on their bowling attack, strategies. It is important for each team member to back our own game. It will be a different wicket. We have to wait and watch. Once the first day is over, we will have an idea about how it will behave the five days,” he said.

He also made it clear that whatever format you play, a national cricketer is expected to adjust to different formats mentally. “Whatever format you play, you want to give your best for your team whether it is T20, Test or ODI. But if you are playing two or three formats it is all about how you adjust mentally. It is all about mental adjustments rather than technical adjustment.”

Rahane made a comeback in the national team for the one-off Test against Bangladesh after an injury layoff where he scored a well composed 82 in 133 balls. Speaking on the innings Rahane said, “That innings was very important for me. I was really excited about that Test match, coming back after two months and importantly I got 82, good to spend time in the middle. But it is important to start afresh here.

“Australia, we all know, is a very good, experienced team. So it will be important to play to our potential, back ourself in the middle. As a team, we are playing really well and it is important to take one game at a time,” he further added. He also thanked Virat Kohli and the team management to back him in the Bangladesh test despite Karun Nair scoring a triple century in the final Test against England.

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“Injuries are part and parcel of the game, you don’t have control over injuries. It was really good to see Karun get 300 runs for the country and in the end, we all are representing India and I would like to thank the team management and the captain for backing me in the match against Bangladesh. I am really confident at the moment playing against Australia.

“For all of us it is important to play one game at a time and momentum will be the key. If we play well in the first game, we will have to carry that momentum forward,” Rahane concluded.