IND vs ENG: 'He has the game for it,' Ajinkya Rahane backs Yashasvi Jaiswal to shine on England tour

Rahane Backs Jaiswal to Shine in England Test Series

Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has voiced his support for Yashasvi Jaiswal, expressing confidence in the young opener's ability to perform well in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. The series is set to commence at Headingley this Friday.

Ajinkya Rahane and Yashasvi Jaiswal

Rahane, who last played for India two years ago against the West Indies, shared his insights on the series and its key players through his YouTube channel. He emphasized the significance of a strong opening partnership in England.

"Personally, I'm really looking forward to seeing Yashasvi Jaiswal do well because opening the batting in England is really important," Rahane stated. "He has the game for it — he can control one end and also go on the attack when needed. So I'm really looking forward to seeing Jaiswal perform in England."

Reports had previously surfaced in April regarding a potential disagreement between Jaiswal and Rahane following Mumbai's defeat to Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy. Despite this, Jaiswal has consistently been India's preferred choice as opener since his Test debut in the Caribbean in July 2023.

Rahane also highlighted the critical role of the pace bowling duo in the series. "I also want to see Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah do well because, as senior campaigners, they have the responsibility to lead the attack and pick up wickets for the team."

"We all know Bumrah is an excellent bowler and a proven wicket-taker, but I'd like to see him take that extra responsibility and help the team get through challenging situations, because winning a Test series in England is always very special."

India's Test record in England has been historically challenging, with only three series victories recorded in 1971, 1986, and 2007 since bilateral engagements began in 1932.

Shubman Gill will lead the Indian team in this series, and Rahane shared his perspective on the young captain's new role. "I think it's going to be a challenging task for Shubman because in Test cricket I always believe you have to be proactive as a captain. I'm sure Shubman will do well, but it will take time because captaining in T20s and ODIs is completely different."

"In the Test format, sometimes you have to stay one or two steps ahead of your opponents, talk to your bowlers, and plan things with them. So, it's going to be a challenging task for him, but I'm sure he will do well as both a skipper and a batter."

Rahane, who famously captained India to a Test series victory in Australia in 2020-21, believes the current team possesses the potential to achieve success in English conditions.