Did not expect the match to get over in two days, says Rahane

Debasis Sen, Bengaluru: After beating Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs in Bengaluru to win the one-off Test match, India’s stand in captain Ajinkya Rahane told that he didn’t expect that the game would over in just 2 days time.

“Frankly I didn’t expect that the match would end in just 2 days time, but I think credit goes to Afghanistan. As I mentioned earlier also that we didn’t want to take them lightly. We wanted to play some good cricket. Shikhar and Vijay played well. Initially the ball was doing a bit and it was important for them to spend time in the middle and capitalize on the start. Shikhar was magnificent. His mindset was completely positive. Vijay took his time and after that Rahul batted well as well. It was important for us to create some good habits, be ruthless, yeah again after batting bowlers did really well,” said Rahane at the post-match press conference.

Despite of a poor show by the Afghans, Rahane backed them to do well in future.”For Afghanistan it’s just the beginning I think. With their bowling, they can do a bit of damage to any other team. It’s still learning phase for them. More and more they play any opponent, they will learn from them. It was just a beginning, for them. You cannot blame them. They tried their best. After first innings, they were trying to stay on wicket, but still it was a beginning. It’s just about playing those matches. I think if 2-3 guys can bat longer period of time, they can be a decent test side,” added Rahane.

On being asked about what India gained from this Test match, Rahane replied,” I think take aways are Shikhar and Vijay’s hundreds. It was a special thing. Vijay took his time played after 2 months. Shikhar batted in IPL and carried on his good form, big positive is the way our bowlers bowled. Because Test matches outside India we have to take 20 wickets, we did that in SA. We took 60 wickets in SA. Bowling they were patient but yet ruthless thinking about getting wickets. As a batting unit, even if you score 325 runs, if your bowlers are able to take 20 wickets, you have the best chance to win the Test match,” said Rahane.

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