Ajinkya Rahane sounded genuinely concerned for the Indian Test team.
In a very subtle message to Gambhir and the Indian Test, Rahane has urged for more character as they step foot on Sri Lankan shores ahead of their two-Test series starting August 15 at Galle.
“Because I haven’t been playing Test cricket for the last two years, I’ve been sitting at home, watching the Indian team lose matches even in India as well.
I think Test cricket needs character.
But I feel Test cricket is always about playing sessions, seeing out tough moments.”
The recently-retired Ajinkya Rahane didn’t stir the pot much verbally during his playing days, but while making his first appearance on a podcast since calling time on his career, the former India batter made a couple of very interesting points regarding India’s struggle in Test cricket. While the Gautam Gambhir era has achieved success in white-ball formats, winning two ICC trophies in two years, the Indian team has suffered multiple lows in Test matches. Two home whitewashes have dwarfed the 2-2 draw in England last year, and as India, currently placed seventh, fight for a place in the World Test Championship final, Rahane emphasised the lack of fight that has taken hold across teams in Test cricket. Ajinkya Rahane sounded genuinely concerned for the Indian Test team. (AFP)
'Test cricket needs for characters' Rahane, who last played a Test for India in 2023, was still enjoying the high of India’s dominance, but strongly feels that the format needs grit, character, and doggedness for the team to reclaim its glory days. In a very subtle message to Gambhir and the Indian Test, Rahane has urged for more character as they step foot on Sri Lankan shores ahead of their two-Test series starting August 15 at Galle.
“Because I haven’t been playing Test cricket for the last two years, I’ve been sitting at home, watching the Indian team lose matches even in India as well. I think Test cricket needs character. You need to build such characters and play competitive cricket. That’s what’s important. Playing session out. You don’t see many teams do that. I don’t want to pinpoint any team, but you want to see people play out those tough sessions,” Rahane said on the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast.
“I have played with him [Gambhir]. I was not with KKR when he was the coach. I never played under him when he was the coach. We played together when we came here [in England], and even in India. But I feel Test cricket is always about playing sessions, seeing out tough moments.”
