Indian cricketers have dominated the ongoing home Test series against the visitors South Africa. Many believe that the Test series has run in the one-sided affair as the hosts have taken the home advantage properly. However, India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane doesn’t have the same feeling.
The no.1-ranked Test team India are currently busy in the three-match home Test series against South Africa. In both those Test matches, India dominated from the starting moments and secured large victories.
They played the first Test of this series at Visakhapatnam. The hosts India won that game by 203 runs. Pune hosted the second Test in this series where India secured the series victory after winning that by an innings and 137 runs.
Ahead of the third or final Test of this series, India have taken the 2-0 lead in this series. India and South Africa have started the final Test of the series from Saturday (19th October) while Ranchi is hosting this Test.
Ajinkya Rahane doesn’t feel that the ongoing series is one-sided as they have worked very hard to achieve these top successes.
Before the Ranchi Test, Rahane claimed, “I don’t think it has been one-sided. When we play in India people always say it will be one-sided. But we follow our processes, work really hard and never take things for granted.”
We thought Vizag and Pune were good to bat on not rank turners – Ajinkya Rahane
India played their first Test series under the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (2019-21) during the West Indies tour in last August-September. In that two-match Test series, India dominated and won that series by 2-0. With that whitewash, India managed to earn full 120 points.
After winning the first two matches in the ongoing Test series, India have added 80 more points in the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship. The no.1-ranked Test team has already earned 200 points in the ongoing WTC while the other teams haven’t even reached the 100-mark in the points table.
Ajinkya Rahane feels that every Test is important due to the Test Championship. To dominate the ongoing home Test series against South Africa, Rahane credited the Indian bowlers.
He added, “In the Test Championship every match is important and the points matter a lot. Vizag match was very important. South Africa had their moments but we have seized the important moments. We thought Vizag and Pune were good to bat on not rank turners. Credit to the bowlers especially the fast bowlers who bowl wicket to wicket. Shami, Ishant and Umesh have been very good. We have to develop (taking 20 wickets) that and if you want to win Test matches you have to take 20 wickets. The bowling unit is very important.”
Ajinkya Rahane was struggling with the bat from a long time. Finally, he has found back his form during the Test series in West Indies in last August-September. Rahane is also maintaining this form in the ongoing home Test series.
Rahane is happy for his present batting form.
The right-handed batsman said, “I am really happy with the way I am batting right now starting from West Indies. Taking one match at a time and not thinking too far ahead.”