We failed as a batting unit, says Rahane

Starting with the South Africa Test series in January, India have looked a team of two parts — the bowlers pick 20 wickets but the batsmen don’t build on the advantage and force a win.

Of the seven matches in South Africa and England together, India have bowled out teams twice in six games, but only two have led to victories as batsmen have fallen short. Ahead of the final Test against England at the Oval, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted the batting group, barring skipper Virat Kohli, has failed.

“We feel bad as our bowlers bowled so well and we as a batting group could not support them while we are an experienced group,” he told reporters on Thursday. “We as a batting group failed. When you are on tour, you work so hard and prepare so well and then when one department performs well it is the responsibility of the other group to back them.”

Kohli has been on a different plane. In South Africa he topped the series aggregate with 286 runs at an average of 47.66. He tops the table in England too, having amassed 544 runs at an average of 68.

Two senior batsmen are finding their feet, but it has not been enough. Cheteshwar Pujara’s first innings century and Ajinkya Rahane’s second fifty still left India 60 short in the fourth Test.

“The way Virat conducted himself, the consistency he showed, was amazing. Many people were saying many things about him, whether he will be able to score runs in England, but Virat concentrated on his cricket and that is what we learn from him. As a teammate and captain we learned a lot from him,” said Rahane.

Rahane urged a mindset change while playing abroad.

“While playing in India you know the conditions. Even if you do something wrong in one session you get a chance to correct it in the next and comeback. When you are touring, then you have to give 100% in each and every session — how well you can play in tough situations and capitalise when you are in a commanding position and capture that situation.

“Patience is the key in England, whether you bat or bowl. You got to bowl in the same areas for a long period of time. Maybe as a batsman, you have to leave the ball for a longer period.”

Patience is the key. You got to bowl in the same areas for a long period of time. As a batsman, you have to leave the ball for a longer period of time. AJINKYA RAHANE, India batsman