IND vs ENG 4th Test: ‘It’s a spinning track,’ reveals Ajinkya Rahane

India’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane reveals that the pitch for fourth and final Test against England will assist spinners just like it did in the previous match that ended in only two days

It’s been almost a week since the third Test ended in just two days, but the pitch debate refuses to die down. And all eyes are on the 22-yard strip for the fourth and final Test between India and England at the Narendra Modi Stadium here, starting tomorrow.  

All information regarding the pitch has been kept under wraps and other than the respective team managements and players, no one knows much about it. However, India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane on Tuesday revealed that the pitch for the final Test looks similar to the one used in the last match and will help spinners just like it did previously.  

“The wicket will be similar to that of the third Test or the second Test that we played in Chennai. It will be a spinning track. Yes, the pink ball made a difference [in the third Test] as it was coming much quicker off the surface compared to the red ball. That’s the adjustment we had to make. But though the pitch looks similar, I don’t know how it is going to play. We will have to wait for that,” Rahane told reporters during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.    
 
English batsmen faltering against spin may be expected, but to see Indian batters also struggling in the third Test surprised many. India have played 31 Test matches since January 2018, only 11 of them have been at home. And Rahane felt that it is due to this that there has been a lack of practice against spin at home which has not helped Team India’s cause. 

“When you play on spinning tracks, you have to play the line. We haven’t played many games in India in the last two-three years. When the ball is spinning too much, you don’t have to think about it. You just play in the line, you miss the ball, so be it. Backing your ability is the key. That’s what we follow,” he said. 

India have put England out of contention for the World Test Championships final spot by winning the third Test. Going into the final Test, India need only a draw to confirm their spot in the final v New Zealand. However, Rahane said that a draw is not on India’s mind: “We always look to win a Test. This Test is no different. We are not going for a draw.” 

No quarantine for India’s T20 players

Ahmedabad: India’s T20 cricketers entered the Test team’s bio-secure bubble here on Tuesday without serving any quarantine period. Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur travelled for 11 hours, from Jaipur, after their Vijay Hazare Trophy league matches ended on Monday. It is learnt that since they travelled in private cars, which were part of the bio-secure bubble in Jaipur, they did not need to serve the otherwise mandatory seven-day quarantine period. 

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