We Are Yet To Decide About Our Combination: Ajinkya Rahane

With less than 24 hours to go for the historic World Test Championship final encounter between India and New Zealand, the speculations regarding the make-up of Virat Kohli’s Team are at their peak.

Should India go with three pacers and include both the spinners or given the fact that there will be overcast condition throughout the Test, should they drop one of the spinners for a seamer?

And, if they do decide to play 3 seamers, who should they pick? Ishant Sharma,  Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami? Or should they replace Shami with Mohammed Siraj?

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was asked about the same during the press conference, but like he always does,  the Mumbai cricketer dead-batted all the questions giving absolutely nothing away.

Rahane said that the team still has a couple of practice sessions left and they are yet to decide on the final combination.

“We are yet to decide about our combination. We still have two practice sessions left,” Ajinkya Rahane said on Wednesday.

The World Test Championship final is a marquee encounter as it is a golden opportunity for both teams to establish their dominance in the longest format of the game.

However, Ajinkya Rahane stated that the team will approach the final as just another game and their main focus will be to take good cricket over a period of five days.

“It’s just a mental thing. If we can switch mentally and adapt, it’s important. Yes one-off, we have to take it as another game, not as a final or anything. We just want to give our best, play good cricket, be consistent in the five days.” he said.

With New Zealand boasting off a world-class bowling attack and the conditions in Southampton likely to favor their seamers, the task for the Indian batsmen will be cut out.

And, Rahane admitted that the batters will have to take up the responsibility and post a competitive total for their bowlers to defend.

”Batters play a key role in England. The bowlers get a lot of help over here and we have a big responsibility. Everyone has a different game-plan. It’s about backing your game-plan. We will take up the responsibility as a batting unit and try to achieve the team’s goal.” he added.

Also Read- India Has Got A More Balanced Bowling Attack Than New Zealand – Ian Chappell