Indian Team Is Only Focussed On Playing Cricket: Ajinkya Rahane Brushes Off Claims Suggesting Quarantine Issues

Ajinkya Rahane, who is leading India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, has assured the team is focussed on playing quality cricket and not worried about the talks off the field. Some of the Indian team members were alleged to have breached the covid protocols and later were placed in quarantine.

Now with the players released, Rahane says the entire concentration is on the third Test in Sydney which commences on 7th January. There are also talks about shifting the 4th Test form The Gabba to the SCG as the players are unhappy to get subjected to quarantine again in Brisbane.

“Quarantine life is definitely a challenge, but it’s okay. We just want to be in the moment and focus on the cricket. Life in Sydney outside seems to be completely normal but we aren’t annoyed to be in quarantine. As I said, our focus is only on cricket. As players, we’re only focused on the game,” Rahane said at the press conference ahead on the third Test.

“The BCCI and the team management will look at that (on the possibility of the 4th Test being played at SCG and not in Brisbane),” he added.

Rohit Sharma will bat at the top of the order: Ajinkya Rahane

The Indian team has announced their playing eleven for the penultimate Test match of the series. Rohit Sharma, who missed the first two Tests, will open in Mayank Agarwal’s spot, as confirmed by Rahane. Agarwal is axed after registering scores of 17, 9, 0 and 5 and looking technically flawed. Shubman Gill retains his spot at the top after his solid debut in Melbourne.

The other change is that of Navdeep Saini, who will make his debut replacing the injured Umesh Yadav. Yadav limped off the field while bowling in the second innings in the previous match after injuring his calf. He has been ruled out of the series. Yadav’s RCB teammate, Navdeep Saini is given the nod over Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan.

In India’s series-levelling victory in Melbourne, Mohammed Siraj was handed his maiden Test cap replacing Mohammed Shami, who is ruled out due to a wrist fracture. The pacer was impressive as he scalped 5 wickets in the match and supported Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin very well.

“We’re all happy to have Rohit Sharma back. He brings a lot of experience to the side. He has been batting really well in the nets. He has been opening for us so he will definitely bat at the top of the order. It’s unfortunate that Umesh got injured, we will surely miss him and Shami. But this gives an opportunity to others. I’m really happy the way Siraj stood up in the last game,” India’s interim captain added.

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