We don’t reveal everything to the foreign players when we play in the IPL: Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane, the vice-captain of India’s Test team, said that the players don’t want the foreign players to get insights into strategies at the international level. Hence, rubbing despite rubbing shoulders with a number of overseas cricketers, especially in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Indian players don’t reveal details of tactics at the highest level.

Rahane put forth his opinions ahead of India’s opening Test against England, starting February 5 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In the IPL, from the current English squad, Rahane has shared the dressing room with the likes of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer.

Yes, we have played a lot of cricket together: Ajinkya Rahane

“See, we definitely play in the IPL, but Test cricket and IPL are completely different. We do know how their bowlers bowl here, but length (that one bowls) is completely different in Test cricket from what they are in white-ball (formats),” Rahane was quoted as saying in Hindustan Times.

“What we do in IPL, it’s not like we tell them all the things and I think that is very important. Yes, we have played a lot of cricket together, but when you represent the country, it is all about how best you can give individually and as a team,” he stated.

Rahane feels that the Three Lions’ outfit is a formidable one and shouldn’t be underestimated by any stretch of the imagination. The Brits recently beat Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series. Joe Root, their Test captain, was their top run-scorer with 426 runs. Rahane also heaped praises on all-rounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer.

“Ben Stokes and (Jofra) Archer, they are really good players. They did really well for England, so it is not about any individual. I think it is all about a team, England team, they are a very balanced outfit which did really well recently against Sri Lanka,” Rahane added.

Rahane recently guided India to a 2-1 series win in the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, he also notched a century, helping his team make a comeback after the Adelaide Test defeat.