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Calcutta: Ajinkya Rahane on Sunday said India will have to bowl with a lot of patience on the fifth day, in their pursuit of a victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.
Chasing 413, Sri Lanka finished the penultimate day of the Test at 72 for two, needing another 341 for victory.
Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 after winning the Galle Test.
“I think the match is poised pretty well. We just have to be in the present because throughout the four days we played some good cricket,” said Rahane after the fourth day’s play.
“It is important to be in the present... And on Monday, we need to take it one wicket at a time. We just need to be patient, that will be the key, because this wicket is getting slower and slower. There will be good partnerships, but one good session for us and we can win this Test,” he added.
Having played a stellar role to take India to a total of 325 for eight declared in their second innings, thereby taking an overall lead of 412 runs, Rahane (126) said his partnerships with Murali Vijay (82) and Rohit Sharma (34) proved to be crucial.
“Building a partnership was the crucial aspect of our batting today. So we were looking to build a partnership. Vijay was batting well at the other end and our communication was very good. We were talking a lot in the middle. The partnership between Rohit and me was also very crucial,” pointed out Rahane.
“Even in the first innings, Virat (Kohli) and (Lokesh) Rahul played very positively. In the second innings, we wanted to be in the present, but at the same time we wanted to dominate their bowling. I think the partnership between Vijay and myself gave us that momentum. Virat and Rohit came in and took their time. I feel that intent has to be there and results will follow automatically,” he added.
This was Rahane’s first Test century in the subcontinent, with the previous three coming in New Zealand, England and Australia.
“When I got out in the first innings, I was very hurt,” said the centurion about his first innings score of four.
“I worked with batting coach Sanjay Bangar and we came earlier and did some throw-downs. So his hard work and Ravi Shastri’s inputs really helped me in the second innings.
“My aim was to play as close to my body as possible and later on just build my innings. So I was just looking to play the ball, take my time and once I was set, I wanted to play a long innings,” said Rahane.
Rahane’s promotion in the batting order had come in for sharp criticism from Sunil Gavaskar after the No.3 batsman fell cheaply in the first innings.
“It was hot out there and it was very challenging to focus on that moment,” Rahane said. “When I was batting on 82… after lunch, my plan was to just take a single and go to other end... I always wanted to play a long innings .
“I fit in everywhere, so my aim is that wherever the team feels right, I should bat there,” he said. “But batting at No. 3 gave me a lot of happiness. It felt good because especially after getting out in the first innings, I felt the way I applied myself, my focus and concentration level was very good in the second innings. As a Test batsman, that focus and hunger was there and I am happy to bat at No. 3 and score a hundred.”