We want to remain as number one in Tests: Ajinkya Rahane

Indian fans might not show much enthusiasm after looking at their team’s roster, knowing that the phase this new look Sri Lankan team is going through. Earlier this year, the Men in Blue outplayed the Lions and they are expected to do just that in the upcoming series, which will have 3 Tests and as many ODIs and T20Is. However, Ajinkya Rahane has revealed that the main target of the team is to strengthen their numero uno position in Tests.

The Indian team is trying to spread their superiority in all the formats of the game, and hence they are doing everything they can to achieve their ‘Mission 1-1-1’, which means number 1 in every format. On their road, they are not tolerating big oppositions like Australia and New Zealand. In such a scenario, the Lankan team might appear as pawns, but India are respecting their opposition.

“This series is completely different compared to what we played in Sri Lanka. We are not taking Sri Lanka lightly even as we had a good series there. Right now if we want to remain as number one in Tests. Every series is very important. We want to win each and every series. We know the conditions here,” the 29-year-old said while speaking to the media in Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

“Even for Sri Lanka this is a very important series and they are preparing really well. We don’t want to take them lightly. We are just focusing on this series right now and the first game in Kolkata. We respect Sri Lanka and we just want to play our game, focus on our strengths rather than thinking about their combination or their strategies,” the Maharashtrian further added.

Not thinking about series against South Africa

Many are considering the series against Sri Lanka as a litmus test ahead of Kohli‘s stern Test in South Africa, where his team will visit the Protean soil for a long tour in January next year. However, Rahane said that the series against the likes of AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis is not on the back of their heads at the moment.

“For us each and every match and series is important before going to South Africa. We will think of South Africa when we go there. Right now we are focusing on this series. South Africa will be completely different,” said the man who is just 191 runs away from reaching 3000 Test runs.