We have plans for every Australia cricketer, says confident Rahane
PUNE India’s middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane said on Monday that the hosts weren’t concerned about Australia’s sledging in the upcoming fourmatch Test series, as they have “plans for every single Australian cricketer”. “We don’t know if they’re going to sledge but we have a plan for all of them, which obviously we won’t be revealing here,” said Rahane at a media interaction here. “Whether it’s skill-wise or sledging-wise, we can’t reveal that, but trust me, we have a plan for every one of them. They’re known to play mind games so let them do what they want to… Our only objective is to dominate in every section of the game.” Australia captain Steve Smith has already said that he has given his men the freedom to sledge, although his deputy David Warner later added that he wouldn’t risk doing so against in-form India skipper Virat Kohli.
“They’re coming to India and here they’ll expect turning tracks. For our team, it will be important to play to our potential and not focus on their bowling attack,” Rahane added.
ATTACKING CRICKET
“For us, it is important to back our team. We will play attacking and positive cricket not just against the spinners but all their bowlers. We’ll have to read the conditions and the situations and play accordingly.”
Rahane had played an 82-run knock in the first innings against Bangladesh in the one-off Test at Hyderabad before adding 28 in the second innings. Rahane, who saw his replacement Karun Nair score a triple hundred in the last Test against England in Chennai, said he was looking forward to the Bangladesh Test to get back to scoring runs. “I was really excited about the Test match and felt really good in the middle for whatever time I spent. But it’s important to start fresh here; Australia, as we know, is a very good team,” he said.
“So, for us, it will be important to play to our potential. As a team, we’re really doing well at the moment. It’s important to take one game at a time.”
When asked if there was any pressure after Nair’s triple hundred, Rahane added, “In the end you’re representing your country. Injuries are part and parcel of the game. You don’t have control over that.
“But the knock that Karun (Nair) played, that 303, was good to see. I would like to thank my team management and captain that they backed me for the Bangladesh game and I wanted to back myself as well and I did that.”