Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has urged Shubman Gill’s men to be proactive against Sri Lanka’s bowling attack in the two-Test series, which begins on August 15.
Speaking just days after announcing his retirement from international cricket, the middle-order batter said the first innings would be crucial and urged India’s batters to have a clear plan to counter Sri Lanka’s spin threat.
India will play two Tests, in Galle and Colombo, as they look to remain in contention for a place in the World Test Championship final. Currently fifth in the standings with just four wins from nine Tests, India need to win seven of their remaining nine matches, including an away series in New Zealand later this year and a five-Test home series against Australia early next year.
India enjoyed success on their previous two tours of Sri Lanka, in 2015 and 2017, but their batting against spin has come under scrutiny in recent years. They suffered home series whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa over the last two years, with their batters repeatedly undone by the visiting spinners.
“I think in Sri Lanka, the first-day wicket generally is very good. But being on top of the bowler as a batsman is very important. That’s what I have learned in Sri Lanka. You cannot be too defensive,” Rahane, who scored 407 runs, including two hundreds, in six Tests in Sri Lanka during his career, told PTI.
Sri Lanka have been one of the toughest touring destinations in recent years, with Australia the only visiting team in the last three years to have won a Test series in the island nation.
India also do not have a great deal of experience in their batting line-up, with KL Rahul the only batter in the squad to have toured Sri Lanka in both 2015 and 2017.
“You have to probably be more proactive because they will have spin-friendly wickets, and Sri Lanka do have decent spinners in their side. And again, a home team is always a tough team to beat. Whatever I’ve learned playing cricket for so many years, you can’t take anyone lightly,” Rahane said.
“So it’s all about, I think, having your own game plan as an individual and being proactive. Even in Test cricket, it’s going to be the key,” he added.
India began a three-day practice match at the NCC Ground in Colombo on Friday. Opting to bat, Sri Lanka reached 358/8 at stumps, making the Indian bowlers work hard for wickets on a placid surface.
India are expected to begin batting on Day 2, and it remains to be seen whether Shubman Gill, who sat out on Friday with a niggle in his left thumb, will take part. KL Rahul led the Indian side in Gill’s absence on the opening day.
Several batters in the squad, including Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, toured Sri Lanka with the India A side last month for two four-day matches.
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