The first Test between South Africa and India at Newlands, Cape Town begins on January 5
As India ready themselves for a long overseas schedule in 2018, beginning with a three-Test series in South Africa, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane talks about his and the team’s evolution in recent years, the challenge of playing in unfamiliar conditions and his batting philosophy.
A long overseas schedule beckons for India, with the current tour of South Africa followed by a visit to England. How is the team looking forward to this challenge?
As a team, we don’t feel we have to prove anything to anyone. We are playing our best cricket at the moment. It is important to play series by series, respect each and every opposition. We consider it a ‘home’ series, irrespective of where we play. It is a challenging mental aspect, not as easy as it sounds. It becomes all about visualisation. Then your mind starts adjusting to the difference in conditions and you carry this confidence on the field.
How do you prepare for the switch from subcontinental pitches to the conditions you will encounter in South Africa?
Preparation started some time back. I have tried to simulate the conditions we will face in South Africa, meaning more pace and bounce in wickets, a little seam movement as well. I am practicing with wet rubber balls on a synthetic turf so I get used to that pace and bounce. By doing this I can also work hard on my hand-eye coordination.
Even when you tick all boxes in preparation, it can still go wrong in the middle. How tough is it to handle failure in those instances?
After every innings, I give myself 10-15 minutes and think about my mind-set at the crease and what I did right or wrong. I think about what I could have done better, what areas I need to improve on, and this doesn’t change whether I score runs or don’t score runs. If you do this, then you are able to switch off completely as you don’t have to repeatedly think about what has gone wrong. You can then move on and work on whatever improvements are needed. This is what I do all the time.
How have you evolved as a player since making your Test debut in 2013?
The biggest point is that I have got experience of playing everywhere in the world. Whatever cricket we have played on foreign soil, I would mark it as a learning curve in making me the player I am today. I can always refer to that experience whenever I find myself in a tough situation. If you are able to adapt to these conditions quickly, then you are in a better position to dominate the series. The past experience helps in that quicker adaptation process. I have also learnt that it is important to enjoy yourself in the middle. So that’s what I intend to do on the upcoming tours.
