India vs Australia | Ajinkya Rahane calls batsmen to step up in order to help bowlers at MCG

Indian opening act has been so dismal in the last one decade that their last century stand in the SENA countries came in Centurion eight years ago, in 2010, when Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir put on 137 runs in India's second innings. While Virat Kohli has been the mainstay in this Indian batting side, and often the lone warrior too, Cheteshwar Pujara has come to the party few times, with Rahane’s batting remaining silent most of the time until the last England series. However, MCG would be offering the ideal condition for the batsmen to fire all cylinders and Rahane has asked them to contribute so as to help India win Tests overseas.

"The batsmen definitely need to step up. When we discuss the batting unit, that point is very important. Especially when we are abroad, the bowlers have been taking 20 wickets since South Africa, so if the batsmen help the bowlers the results will be favouring us,” Rahane, who has scored two 50+ scores in the series, said, reported Cricketnext.

The last time India played at the MCG, in 2014, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane strung together a 262-run partnership, which is still India's highest stand outside Asia in the last 14 years. Rahane was clearly playing the role of the aggressor, smashing 147 runs in just 171 deliveries with 21 boundaries. Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Shane Watson, and Nathan Lyon looked clueless, as Rahane played like in a dream. Four years on, the big scores have dried up and he became more sterile in his approach. On being asked about that, Rahane said he will score a century in the MCG Test.

"It (century) will definitely come. I'm really sure it will come in this Test match with the way I am batting since Adelaide. I think I will get two hundreds but it will be important for me not to think about it and continue the way I am batting. If I can read the situation well and bat accordingly it will be better for the team. Personal milestones can come later."