ENG vs IND: Ajinkya Rahane expresses confidence in Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ability to thrive in England.

Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane has expressed his confidence in Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ability to thrive during his tour of England, highlighting his knack for taking on and excelling in various roles as an opener.

“Personally, I’m excited to see Yashasvi Jaiswal perform well because opening the batting in England is crucial,” Rahane mentioned in a video posted on his YouTube channel.

“He has the skills for it — he can anchor one end while also being aggressive when necessary. So, I’m eager to witness Jaiswal’s performance in England.”
In April, there were rumors regarding a fallout between Jaiswal and Rahane after Mumbai’s defeat to Jammu and Kashmir in a Ranji Trophy match last season. Rahane last represented India two years ago against the West Indies, in the same series where Jaiswal made his debut.
Rahane, known for guiding an injury-plagued Indian team to a Test series victory in Australia during 2020-21, is placing his trust in Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to consistently take wickets, given their past experience in English conditions.

“I also want to see Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah excel because, as senior players, they are responsible for leading the attack and securing wickets for the team,” Rahane said.

“We all recognize Bumrah as an outstanding bowler and a reliable wicket-taker, but I want him to embrace that extra responsibility and assist the team in navigating tough situations, as winning a Test series in England is always a remarkable achievement.”

India last claimed a Test series in England back in 2007, led by Rahul Dravid to a 1-0 victory. Shubman Gill will assume captaincy duties starting with this match, and Rahane believes it will be a significant challenge for him to transition from T20 leadership to Test cricket.

“I think it’s going to be a challenging task for Shubman because, in Test cricket, I believe a captain must be proactive. I’m confident Shubman will succeed, but it will take time since captaining in T20s and ODIs is entirely different.

“In the Test format, you often need to be one or two steps ahead of your opponents, communicate with your bowlers, and strategize with them. So, it will be a tough challenge for him, but I’m sure he will perform well as both a captain and a batsman,” Rahane stated in the video.