Ajinkya Rahane revealed that he had apologized to Virat Kohli after his terrible confusion with him resulted in the departure of the Indian captain in the first day and night test in Adelaide.
India was in a strong position at 188 of 3 when an unfortunate confusion between Rahane and Kohli turned the game over to Australia. In the 77th of India’s first innings, Rahane pushed in a pitch from Nathan Lyon and took off with a single. The ball was hit directly to the middle fielder. Realizing there was no halfway race, Rahane decided to send Kohli back, but it was too late.
Kohli was short of his fold and had to make the long way back by 74. Kohli’s wicket caused a meltdown when India lost went from 177 by 3 to 244 in the first innings.
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“It was hard. We were doing very well at the time. After the day’s play, I walked up to him and told him I’m sorry and that he was fine. Such things happen in cricket, we have to keep going, ”Rahane said on the eve of the Boxing Day test in which he will lead India in place of Kohli, as he has flown back home for the birth of his first child. .
India made four changes to their XI game for the Boxing Day event. Shubman Gill replaced Prithvi Shaw. Ravindra Jadeja replaced Virat Kohli as India preferred an additional spinner, while Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj entered for Wriddhiman Saha and Mohammed Shami.
Rahane, who will be the captain of India for the remainder of the series, said Kohli had met them before he left and recommended that they back up their strengths.
“We met Virat before he left, we had a discussion about how to do things. He told us to play as a team and to support our strengths, ”Rahane added.
When asked if he will accept Kohli’s help in the middle of the series, Rahane said he doesn’t want to upset him.
“I don’t want to bother you now. This is a very special time for your family, so yes, I don’t want to upset you, ”she said.
Rahane seemed confident of getting over the Adelaide debacle: India was knocked out 36 in the second inning, their lowest total in test cricket.
“Each and every individual on this team is really capable of doing well, so it’s really a challenge for the captain and management to select all 11.
“We had just one bad hour (in Adelaide). It’s about staying positive, supporting your own skill and making partnerships, ”Rahane said.
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