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‘See all our spinners are really good and given a chance they will all do really well’
India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane expects the Chepauk pitch to offer serious turn from the very first day of the second Test against England when launch their attempt to level the four-match series and remain in contention for the World Test Championship final.
India lost the first Test by 227 runs on a deck that didn't have anything for bowlers while the fresh pitch, with a darker and drier look, promises to be a spinner’s paradise in the game starting Saturday.
"Yeah, it looks completely different. I am sure it will turn from day 1 but again as I have said before the first Test match, you have to wait and see how it plays in the first session and take it from there on," Rahane said at the pre match virtual conference on Friday.
"...but yeah, we have to forget what happened in the first Test. We know these conditions really well and we have to put our best foot forward tomorrow," Virat Kohli's deputy added.
Despite hinting that left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel is available for selection, Rahane didn't divulge names of the Playing XI.
"Everyone is in the mix and good thing is Axar is fit and I am not going to tell you who is going to play tomorrow. See all our spinners are really good and given a chance they will all do really well," Rahane kept cards close to his chest.
He also defended the spinners' performance in the first Test and said that their first innings form wasn't something that the team was overtly concerned about.
"If you see the first two days, there was nothing for our spinners and fast bowlers. Considering we bowled 190 overs and they scored 578 runs, I thought we really bowled well.
"There was nothing on that wicket. If you see second innings, all our spinners, especially Ashwin bowled really well. We are not too concerned about how our spinners are bowling and I am sure we will come out with a plan."
Rahane said they cannot not just blindly copy England's template to try to dominate the spinners in the second match.
"England came up with some plans playing sweep and reverse sweep, but it's not necessary that we are going to play similar shots," the middle-order batsman explained.
"It's all about what they bowl and how we attack their line and length and play our game."
About the 27 no balls and 31 dropped catches since the epic Australia series win, Rahane said that the issues remain a work in progress.
"We are really working hard on what we can control. In India, close-in catches are really important and sometimes these things happen. No one does it intentionally, it's all about how confident you are. Close in catches are really important."
"About, no balls, yes we all were disappointed about the no balls and they are working really hard."