Afghanistan Can't Be Taken Lightly, Says Ajinkya Rahane

Team India would face a stern challenge in the upcoming few months. Virat Kohli-led is scheduled to face England and Australia later in the year.

However, before that, they face the challenge of Test debutants Afghanistan. India will play the no more minnows Afghanistan in their inaugural Test from 14^th June at Bengaluru. In the absence of their regular skipper Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team.

Afghanistan has quite a few quality players in their ranks and cannot be taken easily. Rahane is also trying to focus on doing well against debutants Afghanistan in the absence of Kohli.

“Qualifying for a Test is the biggest thing for Afghanistan cricket and that is good for cricket. We don’t want to take any team lightly. We just want to go out there and play with the same intensity as we do with every other team,” HT quotes Rahane.

Afghanistan has the likes of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman. On their day, they can make any top class bowling look clueless.

Both teenagers are world class bowlers and have a lot of variations up their sleeve.

Interestingly, a few days earlier former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly warned India of preparing a rank turner which could play into the hands of Afghanistan.

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Rashid is a quality bowler says Rahane:

“Rashid is doing really well, especially in the shorter format T20, he did fantastic for Sunrisers, he is a quality bowler and everyone needs to accept and respect that. Afghanistan can’t be taken lightly, because in cricket and in general in life you cannot take anything for granted,” Rahane said.

The middle-order batsman feels that not being part of the limited-overs squad touring England gives him the much-needed time. Well, ahead of the five-match Test series it will definitely be a much sterner Test than the limited overs format.

India will definitely look for a series win after disastrous performances in the last couple of tours. The Test series against England starts on 1^st August.

“It is important that you get time to prepare yourself, especially when you know that you are not in ODI squad. This is actually motivating me because I am actually looking to make a comeback. I still believe that I can come back and do well in shorter formats with World Cup coming up,” Ajinkya Rahane signed off.

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