Ajinkya Rahane has said that a comprehensive analysis of his batting failures in the first two Tests against England was responsible for his much improved showing at Trent Bridge.
The India deputy skipper’s knock of 81 was one of the highlights from the visitors’ first innings total of 329.
The middle-order batsman’s 159-run for the fourth wicket along with captain Virat Kohli (97) was responsible for resurrecting India’s innings after three wickets had fell in quick succession.
“After the last Test match I sat down in the dressing room and analysed all my good innings, how I played them, what was my mindset, how I approached those innings,” Rahane told bcci.tv.
“Success and failures are there as a professional cricketer but the intent has to be there. And if the mindset and attitude is right results will automatically follow.
Rahane had struggled for form in the first two Tests.
“Definitely, I was not getting too bogged down after the first Two Tests. The belief was that if the ball was there hit I will hit. Thinking too much about the end result put pressure. The aim was to play one ball at a time and play it on merit.”
The right-handed batsman had only managed to score a total of 48 runs in the first two Tests which ended in defeats for India. Following his gritty innings of 81, India batting coach Sanjay Bangar credited head coach Ravi Shastri for the improvement in Rahane’s confidence.
“Ravi (Shastri) coming out and saying that he is still the pillar of Indian batting might have done a whole lot of good for his confidence,” Bangar told the Times of India after the first day’s play.
