IND vs SA, Test Series: It's Important To Start Fresh, Says Ajinkya Rahane

On batting with Vihari, Rahane revealed 'good communication' between them was the key to their success

India Test team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane had a good dream run in the recently concluded Test series vs West Indies. Rahane played superb knocks of 81 and 102 in the two innings he played in the first Test against Windies. The 31-year-old scored his first Test hundred in two years during first Test vs Windies and amassed 271 runs from four innings to help India attain 2-0 win in Test series. Talking to media-persons, Rahane said: "I'm looking to be in the present, something that I did in the West Indies. I am looking to contribute to the team so that I don't put pressure on myself. What happened in the West Indies is past and it is important to start fresh." "It was important for me to stay in my zone, to believe in my abilities. I wasn't thinking much about the technical aspects... It was all about how I managed the mental adjustments like handling difficult situations and thinking about the team, so that I could contribute. I was thinking more about the mental aspects and my ability rather than thinking about the technical points," the 31-year-old Mumbai batsman said. Another player who emerged as star performer was Hanuma Vihari, who scored 289 runs from four innings. On batting with Vihari, Rahane revealed 'good communication' between them was the key to their success. "I think when you bat, it is important to trust your partner, be it a batsman or a bowler. With Vihari batting at No. 6, it was important to communicate as when the No. 5 and No. 6 are batting together, it is crucial to asses the situation. "It is important to communicate and see how the planning to bowl. We both communicated well, we knew when we had to attack or when to defend... So communication was the key," Rahane said. On reverse swing being a factor in India, he said: "It is a factor in India, but we are not sure at which point it will come into play. As a batsman, you have to be prepared before the series starts. Good practice sessions and communication are very important." "It is important to win the series because the World Test Championship has started. Also, you can't take any team lightly and have to respect your opponents. With players like Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, who did well in the practice game, and Faf du Plessis in their ranks, South Africa have many experienced campaigners, so it is important to respect them. But at the same time, we have to play our game and as we know the conditions well, we must play as an unit and focus on our strengths," he said. "Team combination will depend on the wicket and the conditions. I think when Vihari bowls, it really makes a difference. In India, we hardly see three fast bowlers playing, so it will depend on the surface and the conditions," Rahane concluded.