Rahane knows the conditions well, having played a key role in India’s 3-0 series sweep in Sri Lanka in 2017. He scored more than 200 runs on that tour, including a century and a fifty.
“I think in Sri Lanka, the first day wicket generally is very good. But being 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 told PTI.
The recently retired batter believes India’s approach against Sri Lanka’s spin attack could prove decisive, particularly with the hosts expected to prepare conditions favourable to their bowlers. Rahane also stressed that Indian batters must enter the series with clearly defined individual plans rather than allowing the conditions or opposition to dictate their approach
“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 for lightly. 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 said.
Rahane on how Test cricket has evolved
The former India batter also reflected on how the rise of T20 cricket has influenced the way players approach Test cricket. According to Rahane, modern batters are increasingly using unconventional strokes that were once rarely seen in the longest format.
“The game has evolved massively. Talking about Test cricket, you see now a lot many T20 players do play in Test cricket as well. The scoop, the laps, switch hit, reverse sweep are being played and that too consistently. I think it is a very good thing,” he said.”As soon as the Test gets over, probably within a week, you’re playing T20, you’re playing ODIs or after T20, you are straight away going into Test cricket. So having that mindset, adaptability is really, really important. So in the last two, three years, the game has gone up immensely,” he added.
Rahane recently brought curtains down to his 85-Test-long career upon retiring from international cricket, whilst opening the pathways for him to participate in franchise T20 leagues across the world.
