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Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan left and Indian captain KL Rahul pose with the Test trophy before their first Test cricket match in Chattogram, Bangladesh, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. Photo Credit: AP
With a place in the final of the World Test Championship at stake, stand-in captain KL Rahul on Monday said a depleted Indian team has no option but to play attacking cricket against Bangladesh in the two-match series starting on Wednesday.
The Indian team will be without three key players – Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and regular skipper Rohit Sharma – due to injuries.
Having already lost the ODI series, the Indian team will need to win their next six Test matches (two in Bangladesh and four versus Australia at home) to remain in contention for the top-two spot in the World Test Championship points table.
As of now, the Indian team is at the fourth position in the table with 52.08 percentage points while Australia (75 percentage points) and South Africa (60 percentage points) are at the first and second position. Sri Lanka ranks third in the list with a score of 64 per cent.
“Test Championship (final) is qualification so we also have to be aggressive. We know where we stand and what we need to do to qualify for the final,” Rahul said during the media conference after unveiling the trophy.
“Every day, every session we will assess what is required of the team at that particular moment and give our best.” The World Test Championship at the end of the season will be held at The Oval, London in June, 2023.
Flexibility in mindset is the order of the hour and a key recipe for success.
“We will not go with any set mindset. Yes, a venue has a certain history, you look at the numbers and take some cues from that. At least for us, we will go there and try to be aggressive and brave,” he added. will do.” Try and get the result.
“The game is played over five days so it is important to break it down into smaller goals. Every season, the demands will be different but one thing is for sure, you are going to see a lot of attacking cricket from our side.” The captain assured.
Much of this talk of offensive intent came from seeing the radically different hyper-aggressive approach of the England team, which has captured the imagination of cricket fans.
And skipper Rahul doesn’t think the English style of batting is characterized by “recklessness”.
“As cricketers, I don’t think it’s reckless cricket. They’ve got some mindset, they’ve thought about it, they back their players and the players are working for the team, so it doesn’t matter. How did you do it?” Cricket is changing, there is no fixed way how to play this game,” said the stylish opener.
Rahul really enjoyed England’s 2-0 series win in Pakistan with one Test match still to go.
“It’s been really interesting to watch these two matches between England and Pakistan. I’m really enjoying Test cricket being played like this, a very fearless, approach to the game.
“But each team has its own method. All teams can learn a thing or two from the teams that have performed well. You cannot always have the same approach. You change according to the circumstances,” he said in English. on approach.
“Hopefully Rohit can recover and play the second Test” Captain Rohit Sharma has now missed back-to-back Tests – one vs England in July due to COVID-19 and now against Bangladesh due to left thumb injury Causing dislocation and split webbing.
Rahul said, “Rohit is an important player for us. He is an experienced player and the captain of our team. He is someone who the team will really miss but we are hopeful that he will recover soon and come back for the second Test.” Will do.”
“Don’t know the criteria for selecting the vice-captain” The previous national selection committee named Cheteshwar Pujara as the vice-captain for the Bangladesh series, while chairman Chetan Sharma said that Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah could be groomed alongside Rahul. Used to be. future leaders.
Pujara is close to retaining his place in the Test team and the vice-captaincy will be of great benefit to him. Pujara was also named the vice-captain for one Test match during the historic 2020-21 tour of Australia.
When Rahul was asked about the vice-captaincy, he sidestepped the issue.
“Regarding the vice-captain, at least I don’t know what the criteria is. Whoever is chosen, you pat yourself on the back. It doesn’t really change too many things, everyone in the team is committed to their roles and Knows the responsibilities.” He didn’t want to make a distinction between who might have been a better deputy.
“Both Rishabh and Pujara have been fantastic for us in Test cricket and have done the job at times. So we don’t really think much. The team wins as eleven players and when we go down we win as a whole team.” Let’s go down.” There is responsibility.” “Shubman has done his job whenever given the opportunity” As a captain, it is always important to back performers and Rahul believes that his potential opening partner Shubman Gill is one of them .
“Shubman has been a fantastic player and his transformation (in ODIs) has been wonderful to watch. In Tests, whenever he has got the chance, he has done the job for the team. He has the flair for the longest format. In every format, He’s exciting. All we can do is have exciting and talented players.” Rahul believes in empowering his players to make their own decisions on the field and play with an open mind.
“As a leader it is important to back your players, let them make their own decisions. At the same time, it is also important that we enjoy our cricket and don’t really think too much. That is what we have to do as a Need is about it.” To win games for the country as a team and individually,” the Bangalore man said.
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