3 weeks ago
Rahane advises proactive India batting approach for Sri Lanka Tests
Ajinkya Rahane is a famous cricket player who used to lead India's team, and he has recently retired from international cricket.
Before India plays against Sri Lanka, he shared some advice with the team's batters.
He said they should not just defend and block every ball.
Sri Lanka's bowlers are spinners, and their pitches help the ball spin a lot.
Rahane thinks Indian batters should play positively and have their own plan instead of being too careful.
He knows the conditions well because in 2017 his team beat Sri Lanka 3-0.
On that tour, he scored more than 200 runs, including a century and a fifty.
He also said cricket has changed a lot because of T20 games, where players try new and exciting shots.
Rahane believes being too defensive would be a big mistake in this series.
Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane said Indian batters cannot afford to be too defensive against Sri Lanka's spinners in the upcoming two-match Test series.
The series begins on August 15 at Galle, marking India's first full-fledged Test tour of Sri Lanka in nine years.
Rahane recalled India's 3-0 series sweep in Sri Lanka in 2017, when he scored more than 200 runs including a century and a fifty.
He advised Indian batters to enter the series with clearly defined individual game plans and a proactive approach.
Rahane noted that T20 cricket has changed Test batting, with shots like the scoop, lap, switch hit and reverse sweep now played consistently.
- Who
- Ajinkya Rahane, former India captain, offering advice to India's batters ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
- What
- Rahane advised Indian batters to be proactive and not overly defensive against Sri Lanka's spinners in the two-match Test series.
- Where
- Galle, Sri Lanka.
- When
- The series begins on August 15; India's last full-fledged Test tour of Sri Lanka was nine years ago.
- Why
- Because Sri Lanka is expected to prepare spin-friendly wickets with decent spinners, and Rahane believes being too defensive could be costly.
Key facts
- Series
- Two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka
- First Test start
- August 15
- Venue
- Galle, Sri Lanka
- India's last full Test tour of Sri Lanka
- Nine years ago
- India's 2017 tour result
- 3-0 series sweep
- Rahane's 2017 performance
- More than 200 runs, including a century and a fifty
- Rahane's Test career
- 85 Tests
Quotes
Ajinkya Rahane
Former India captain and Test batsman
“The game has evolved massively. Talking about Test cricket, you see now a lot many T20 players do play in Test cricket as well. The scoop, the laps, switch hit, reverse sweep are being played and that too consistently. I think it is a very good thing.”
CNBC TV 18
“I think in Sri Lanka, the first day wicket generally is very good. But being top of the bowler as a batsman is very important. That's what I have learned in Sri Lanka. You cannot be too defensive.”
CNBC TV 18
Sources
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