XtraTime Web Desk: Indian cricket team’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane proved his critics wrong by playing a crucial knock of 81 runs against England on Saturday in the third Test at Trent Bridge. The 159-run partnership between him and skipper Virat Kohli for the fourth wicket was the key reason behind India’s comeback in the do or die game. “That partnership with Virat Kohli was very crucial for us. As I had told earlier when Pujara was unfortunately dismissed before lunch and I went on to bat, my intent right from the outset was to keep batting and scoring runs. Strike rotation was important in the partnership with Virat Kohli”, Rahane said in a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on their official Twitter account.
INTERVIEW: @ajinkyarahane88 speaks about his gritty 81 in the third Test, his partnership with captain @imVkohli & the match situation after the end of Day 1 – by @RajalArora #TeamIndia #ENGvIND
VIDEO LINK ▶️ —-> https://t.co/AAECzG3Ux6 pic.twitter.com/Q43JSZ4Sly
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 19, 2018
Rahane revealed that Kohli and his intention was to bat throughout the day.
“Our intent was to continue batting throughout the day. When Virat Kohli and myself were batting, we were trying to build a partnership and as soon we both got set, our focus was to keep the scoreboard ticking”, he said.
Rahane also expressed satisfaction on India’s batting performance at the end of day one.
“I think the first day’s total is quite decent. If the total would have been at 307/4, it would’ve been great. Hardik Pandya got out in the last over but at the end, this is a good score at the end of the first day”, he said.
Rahane said that his low scores in the second Test at Lord’s prompted him to improve his batting at the Trent Bridge.
“After my Lord’s innings, I kept on analysing how my good batting innings were. I was never bogged down by my performances and kept my calm”, he signed off.