Vinod Kambli feels one big knock will bring back Ajinkya Rahaneās confidence
Vinod Kambli has voiced his support to Ajinka Rahane, who is struggling with his form, claiming that one big knock will be enough to bring his confidence back. Kambli also added that the team needed to pick an aggressive approach in the South Africa tour and it would be the only way to succeed.
Rahane has played 43 Tests in his career in which he scored 2826 runs at an average of 44.15 but in the recent past, he seemed struggling for form. He played 11 matches in 2017 in which he scored just 554 runs with only one century. In his last three games, he managed just 17 runs in five innings. However, Rahane, who played two Tests in back 2013 in South Africa where he scored 209 and 96 was his highest score on that tour. needed only a good innings to boost his confidence, according to Kambli.
"Ajinkya is struggling. He has to get in the habit of runs. Once he gets in, he should get more runs for his confidence. Getting out so early, you lose your confidence and concentration. So for him, it's one big knock, if he gets an opportunity, one big knock will bring back his confidence," Kambli said as quoted by TOI.
The South Africa tour is considered to be a challenging one for Team India as the players will face the bouncy and fast tracks over there. Virat Kohli had demanded similar kind of pitch during the Test series against Sri Lanka but apart from the Eden wicket, not too many resembled anything like a South African pitch. Kambli, who played South African domestic cricket for Boland in 2002, suggested that the team should play anĀ aggressive brand of cricket and claimed it is the only way to tackle their opponents.
"It's upon the technique and plus the approach towards the game. The tracks will be bouncy, and they (the South African bowlers) will come (hard) at you. The more aggressive and positively you play, that is the way to theĀ best thing (way) to play in South Africa, because I have learned, when I played as professional (in SA) is that you have to play aggressively and positively. No matter whatever the situation is, just play your best," he advised.
The Kohli-led Indian team is on the verge of creating a record of ten consecutive Test series victory and the team also had a chance to win their maiden Test series on theĀ South African soil as Indian team played 17 games there but managed to win only two Tests.
"I think, we will do well (in South Africa). The way the Indian players are playing, the way they are winning (matches). I feel it will be a different format, (India will face) a lot of fast bowling. We have got the batting line up and it will be a challenge for Virat (Kohli) and the team and I am very confident that our team will do well," the 45-
Kohli, who has been inĀ unbelievable form this season, has scored 5268 runs in 63 Test matches. During the series against Sri Lanka, the 29-year-old scored two double centuries in two consecutive innings and added his sixth double century to his career record. Earlier, Kambli had the record of two double centuries in consecutive innings which he claimed in 1993. Against England, he scored 224 in Mumbai and played a knock of 227 runs against Zimbabwe in Delhi. When the cricket world is praising the Indian skipper, Kambli has some special words for him.
"The way Virat is playing is amazing. I am happy to see batting like that and I am also VK and he is also VK. I got the double hundreds long back, I would like to congratulate him" he said.
