The focus was to dominate all the time, says Rahane

here, especially after the Galle Test, we decided that using footwork against him (Herath) was important. Again in the first Test, Shikhar (Dhawan) batted well, but throughout against him and their spinners we wanted to use our footwork so we could get more runs on the back-foot. On this kind of wicket, it is very slow and dry, we knew if we use our footwork we will get more runs on the back-foot,” said Rahane. day’s play, declaring, “this was one of the best innings against spinners”. back on them and that’s what we did,” said Rahane.

Being No 1 for a while now, it’s also about going out there and making a statement for India. It’s no more just about the results, like all champion teams they are looking to dominate all the time.

“My focus was to dominate (when I started), we are the No.1 team. We talk about it in the dressing room so despite the situation (133/3) we didn’t want to get into pressure. I knew a little bit how the wicket was behaving, and the communication between me and Pujara was that we hardly played any maiden overs. So we put pressure on them,” said Rahane, comparing his knock to the hundred at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2014.

“My mindset was blank coming into this innings. I wanted to take my time initially but later on we thought if we dominate they will be on the back-foot straightaway… because the same thinking was in Melbourne in Australia, wanted to dominate them and that’s what we did.”