'In the series against South Africa we will do well against spin'

India's middle-order mainstay Ajinkya Rahane promised that the team's batsmen would put up a much more impressive display against spinners in the coming four-Test series against South Africa than they had in the last few rubbers. 

Agreeing that Indian batsmen did not do too well against the spinning ball in Sri Lanka, Rahane said things would be different against South Africa at home.

"Unfortunately, we got out to spinners in Sri Lanka. We played fast bowling very well in Australia and South Africa. The intention was to play out their first spells and then take them on. We are just looking to improve against spin in the series against South Africa. I'm confident in the series against South Africa we will do well against spin," he said. 

While rubbishing suggestions that the current lot of batsmen were suspect against quality spin bowling, Rahane said, "I don't think we are playing spin bowling badly. In Sri Lanka, you have to give credit to their spinners. Rangana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal bowled very well."

Rahane said with the team preferring to play with five frontline bowlers, the onus was on batsmen to give them enough time to get 20 wickets for a Test win.

"With five bowlers playing as batsmen, it was our responsibility to get quick runs. We wanted to give enough time to the bowlers to take 20 wickets. That was our mindset in Sri Lanka," said Rahane, who scored a century in the second innings of the second Test for a winning cause.