My role is to keep plans ready – Ajinkya Rahane on vice-captaincy role

India’s Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has stated that his role is to keep plans ready for Virat Kohli. Rahane added that he mostly takes a back seat as Kohli is occupied with a lot of thoughts of being the captain of the team. The Indian team’s deputy is well known to keep his composure under pressure situations.

Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane had led India to historic series win in Australia after they were skittled out for 36 runs in the opening Test. Rahane led from the front in Kohli’s absence and scored a majestic knock of 112 runs in the second Test match at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Rahane was able to get the best out of his team on the tour of Australia and he was able to create history as he led with aplomb.

“My role is to take the backseat. The captain already has a lot of thoughts in his head and as the vice captain my role is to keep my plans ready,” Rahane told ESPNCricinfo. “If the need comes I reveal my plans but more often than not, I take the back seat. When Virat asks what needs to be done, I should be ready with the answers,” he said.

Rahane also talked about his partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. The right-hander added that Pujara likes to take his time whereas Kohli is more aggressive.

“Virat and I have had a lot of big partnerships. We like to play attacking cricket. If you look at our strike rate, it is really good in Test cricket. Cheteshwar is different, he likes to take his time,” said Rahane.

“With him the communication is different, he bats at No.3, I bat at No.5 whereas Virat and I are numbers four and five. If we want to counter attack, then we decide to do it together. With Pujara we take more time to form a partnership. The similarity in batting with the two of them is that our communication is always good,” he said.

Rahane is going to play a crucial role for the Indian team in the World Test Championship final both as Kohli’s deputy and as a batsman. The WTC final will be played at Ageas Bowl, Southampton from June 18.