India Test team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is confident about his team’s chances in the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia Down Under.
Ahead of the first Test match in Adelaide, Rahane said that the Indian cricket team has the firepower to defeat the Aussies in their own backyard. The middle-order batsman has further added that the decision regarding the opening combination for the pink ball Test will be taken on Wednesday.
During the virtual media interaction on Tuesday, Rahane said,"Everyone Is equally good. We have not decided on our combination, we will sit tomorrow. There is one more practice session to go. Everyone is equally talented. Whoever plays can win matches, it is about trusting the players."
Rahane has also added that the Indian team has the bowling resources to replace injured Ishant Sharma, who had suffered an injury in the Indian T20 league held in UAE. The Indian vice-captain sounded optimistic about the available pacers troubling Australia’s star-studded batting line-up.
Interestingly, Virat Kohli-led Team India had created history in their last Test series in Australia in 2018-19 season by becoming the first Asian nation to win a Test series Down Under, a first since in 1947-48.
"We do have a strong attack. We will miss Ishant, he is a senior fast bowler. But the guys who are here - Umesh (Yadav), (Navdeep) Saini, (Mohammad) Siraj with Jasprit and Shami - are all experienced and they know how to bowl in these conditions. It is all about bowling in partnerships for us."
"We all know we did really well last time (in 2018). This is a new series starting with the pink ball, it's about getting the momentum. We have the attack to get 20 wickets. For us, it's important to start well and stay in the present. Just focusing on the pink ball Test and then focusing on the remaining matches."
The 32-year-old will be leading the Indian Test team in the last three matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, once Virat Kohli returns to India to attend the birth of his first child.
India will begin their much-awaited four-match Test series against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on December 17.
