BAN vs IND 2022-23, 1st Test: KL Rahul promises that India will play aggressively; here's why

With a spot in the World Test Championship final at stake, a depleted Indian team has no option but to play an aggressive brand of cricket against Bangladesh in the two-Test series, starting Wednesday, stand-in skipper KL Rahul said on Monday. The Indian team will be without three key players -- Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and regular skipper Rohit Sharma -- due to injuries. Having already lost the One-Day International (ODI) series, the Indian team will need to win its next six Test matches (two in Bangladesh and four versus Australia at home) to remain in contention for a top-two spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 points table.

Currently, the Indian team is placed fourth in the table with 52.08 percentage points, while Australia (75 percentage points) and South Africa (60 percentage points) are ranked first and second. Sri Lanka, with 64 percentage points, is third on the list. "There is a Test championship [final] qualification, so we must be aggressive. We know where we stand and what we need to do to qualify for the final. Each day, each session, we will assess what is required for the team in that particular moment and give our best," said Rahul during a media conference after unveiling the trophy.

The season-ending WTC will be held in June 2023 at The Oval in London. Flexibility in mindset is the order of the hour and an essential recipe for success. "We won't go in with any set mindset. Yes, there is a detailed history of a venue. You look at the numbers and take some pointers from that. At least for us, we will go there and try to be aggressive and brave and get a result," Rahul stated.

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"The game is played over five days, so breaking it down to smaller targets is important. In every session, the demands would be different, but one thing is sure you will see a lot of aggressive cricket from our side," Rahul assured. Much of this talk of aggressive intent has come from watching the England team's radically different ultra-aggressive approach, which has caught the imagination of cricket fans.

And skipper Rahul doesn't think the English style of batsmanship characterises "recklessness". "As cricketers, I don't think it is reckless cricket. They have a certain mindset, think about it, back their players, and the players are doing the job for the team, so it doesn't matter how you have done it. Cricket is changing. There is no set way of how this game needs to be played," the stylish opener said.

Rahul, in fact, immensely enjoyed England's 2-0 series win in Pakistan with a Test match still to go. "Watching these two matches between England and Pakistan has been interesting. I enjoy watching Test cricket being played like that, a very fearless, taking the game on. But each team has its way. All teams can learn a thing or two from the teams doing well. You can't always have the same approach. You turn up according to the conditions," he said, providing his take on the English approach.

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"Hope Rohit can recover and play 2nd Test"
Skipper Rohit Sharma has now missed back-to-back Test matches --- one vs England in July due to COVID-19 and now against Bangladesh due to left thumb dislocation and split webbing. "Rohit is an important player for us. He is an experienced player and captain of our team. He is someone the team will miss, but we hope he can recover quickly and come back for the second Test," Rahul said.

"Don't know the criteria for selecting vice-captain"
The previous national selection committee had named senior top-order batter Cheteshwar Pujara as vice-captain for the Bangladesh series even as chairman Chetan Sharma had said that Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah along with Rahul are being groomed as future leaders.

Pujara is just about holding onto his spot in the Test squad, and vice-captaincy will be an absolute boost. Pujara was also named vice-captain for one Test match during the 2020-21 historic tour of Australia. When Rahul was asked about the vice-captaincy, he sidestepped the issue. "Regarding vice-captain, at least I need to figure out the criteria. Whoever is picked, you pat yourself on the back. It doesn't change too many things. Everybody in the team knows their roles and responsibilities," reckoned Rahul.

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Rahul didn't want to distinguish who could have been a better deputy. "Rishabh and Pujara have been brilliant for us in Test cricket and have done the job so many times. So, we don't think much. The team wins as eleven players, and when we go down, we go down as a whole team. Everyone has responsibility," he continued.

"Shubman has done his job whenever given opportunity"
As a skipper, it is always essential to back the performers, and Rahul believes that his likely opening partner Shubman Gill is one of them. "Shubman has been a brilliant player, and it is wonderful to see his transformation [in ODIs]. In Tests, he has done the job for the team whenever he has the opportunity. He has the temperament for the longest format. In every format, he is exciting. What we can do is back exciting and talented players," he established.

Rahul believes in empowering his players to make their own on-field decisions and play with a free mind. "It is important as a leader to back your players and let them make their own decisions. At the same time, we must also enjoy our cricket and not overthink. It is about what we require to do as a team and as individuals to win the game for the country," the Bangalore man concluded.

(With inputs from PTI)