I analysed my batting a lot after the Lord’s Test, says Rahane

NOTTINGHAM: India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane said that he analysed his batting a lot after twin failures in the first two Tests against England at Edgbaston and Lord’s, the effort resulting in a characteristically gritty 81 at Trent Bridge.

Rahane and skipper Virat Kohli batted beautifully on the first days as the visitors crossed the 300-run mark in first innings.

“After the last Test match I sat down in the dressing room and analysed all my good innings, how I played them, what was my mindset, how I approached those innings,” Rahane said in an interview to ‘bcci.tv’.

Rahane entered the match under pressure but showed composure in his 131-ball knock.

“Success and failures are there as a professional cricketer but the intent has to be there. And if the mindset and attitude is right results will automatically follow. Definitely, I was not getting too bogged down after the first two Tests. The belief was that if the ball was there hit I will hit. Thinking too much about the end result put pressure. The aim to play one ball at a time and play it on merit,” he added.

Rahane and Kohli stitched together a 159-run partnership.

“Our aim was to build partnership when Virat and I were batting, and as we settled down the focus was to make runs. That partnership was really crucial for us. The intent was to rotate strike from the beginning. I have always felt that when you go into a shell you can’t play your game. We capitalised on the bad balls.”