Ajinkya Rahane, Sourav Ganguly confident of India doing well in England

Even though Rahane played just one game of the three-match Test series, he was right there when a brilliant Indian bowling attack claimed 20 wickets in all three Tests in South Africa. The main reason for the success was the displays by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball. Having witnessed that first hand, Karthik believes that India have a good shot at beating England when the Indian tour there later this year.

“Definitely, we all do believe that we have the team that can do well in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England. It is important to start well. The preparations part will be really important as it will provide us with the momentum. Taking 60 wickets in South Africa was unbelievable. The way our fast bowlers and spinners bowled, we all believe that we can do well,” Rahane said, as quoted by the Indian Express. 

“When we go abroad, the teams come hard at us. There is challenge for an individual to do well overseas but we had discussed that from now on, wherever we will go, we will think and play like it’s our home turf and that’s what we were doing in South Africa,” he further added. 

The vice-captain of the Test team also said that he was happy to contribute to the team’s success. After he was dropped for the first two Tests, he thought the third Test was an opportunity to be a hero. 

“Yes Johannesburg wicket was slightly dangerous but for me it was an opportunity to become a hero. I did not play the first two Test matches and I was motivated, I was disciplined and really working hard on my batting, when I got to know that I was playing this (Johannesburg) Test match, and that is what I did and I am happy to contribute to the success,” the 29-year old revealed. 

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly echoed Rahane’s thoughts stating that a world-class bowling attack is the reason why India could cause an upset England on the much-awaited tour.  

“Absolutely they have the (bowling) attack to take 20 wickets. Indian cricket always has had the batsmen, who would put 400 runs on the board but the difference is when they put 400 runs on the board and you have bowlers to pick 20 wicket,” Ganguly said. 

“Anil Kumble used to say: ‘You give me 450 runs on the board in the first innings and I will win you Test matches.’ This team has the batting, already with Rahane, (Virat) Kohli and the rest, and they have the bowling too.”

“The key is how we quickly we get on at the start of the tour, because that is very important. You saw in South Africa, as time went by, they got better and they have got all the qualities to win overseas,” left-handed batsman explained.