Ind vs Eng test series: ‘It is challenging as a player’ says Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane, the Indian cricket test vice-captainthinks that the unusual weather conditions of England will be a difficult partfor the team members to get used to in the five-match test series. The two teams,England and India will play against each other at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on4^th August.

This series marks the start of the second round of the secondcycle of the World Test Championship. Rahane said, “Conditions are completelydifferent here. We played against England in our home. For us, it is familiar.Here again, we played a lot of cricket but getting used to the conditions isthe key and being in the present matters a lot as a team. For us starting wellis really important.”

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On Friday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)informed that Ben Strokes, the all-rounder England cricket men’s player istaking a not-defined break from all cricket. He has withdrawn himself from thetest series match because he wishes to put his mental wellbeing as a priorityand also wishes to give rest to his left index finger, which is not fullyrecovered till now.

Rahane stated, “Bubbles are really challenging from aplayers’ point of view, what Ben Stokes said, it was his call. You got tounderstand the players’ mindset as well; it is all about how he is feeling because when you play at the highest level, you want to give your best, morethan 100 percent, and your mental health matters a lot. We respect that, we respecthis decision. I’m sure his England teammates also respect his decision. Youhave to understand what a player is going through in that difficult moment.Yes, it is tough, it is challenging as a player, as a team, to be in the bubblecontinuously, and to give your best all the time takes a lot.”

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The opener batsman Mayank Agarwal has been ruled out ofthe test against England as he got hit on his helmet while batting informed theBoard of Control for Cricket India (BCCI). The batsman is in a stable conditionand is currently under strict medical observation.

Talking for his preparation Rahane said, “Preparationshave been really good so far for me. Even when I was not playing the three-daygame (in Durham), I was practicing on the side and we had a couple of goodpractice sessions. I’m completely ready to play.”