After creating a world record feat of eight catches in a Test match, Ajinkya Rahane credited former India skipper and currently India ‘A’ coach Rahul Dravid for helping him on slip catching and overall fielding.
Rahane became the first fielder in Test history to take eight catches in a game, achieving the feat in the ongoing first cricket match against Sri Lanka
Excerpts:
On association with Rahul Dravid
We had a very good talk during Indian Premier League (IPL) as to what he used to do when he used to stand in the slips. He told me that focus and concentration were the really important things. In Test matches sometimes ball will not come for a long time and suddenly you have to grab that one chance that comes. That temperament has to be there and I have been working on my slip catching and my overall fielding. Credit to the support staff as well. They did a good job. So happy with the way I fielded.
On the umpiring decisions that went against the Indian team
We are not thinking about that right now. It happens. It is part and parcel of the game. We have to bat well tomorrow. We respect Sri Lankans. So we have to bat well. Wicket has become slightly slower. It was easy later on to bat. Ashwin, Bhajji and Mishi bowled really well. Credit to Chandimal. He batted well, took his chances and came off really well. We will bat well tomorrow. I am sure. And we want to win.
On the fielding positions
I feel in this team, any player can stand anywhere. Every individual has the ability to stand anywhere and all are brilliant fielders. I normally stand at gully for the fast bowlers and this time Virat told me that I would be standing at slip for the spinners. So, I have been practicing that before the Test series. Even during the series we have been taking 50 to 100 catches (in practice) everyday. So that's working for us. As a fielder you also have to be flexible and (stand) wherever your captain tells you to stand.
On the fourth-day chase
Our intention is to stay positive. Virat and Shikhar got very good hundreds in the first innings. Each and every batsman is in good touch. So I am confident about tomorrow. Yes, we have to bat well. We respect the opposition. Focus and concentration will be the key for the first one hour. And later on we will try and get the score as quickly as possible.
On the World Record
I didn't know until Vijay and Umesh came and told me that this is a world record for you. I was quite surprised, I didn't know about it. Sanga's catch I was completely focusing on the present moment because we all knew that one wicket at that point will give us that momentum. Actually, that wicket gave us the momentum and immediately Mathews got out, so my motto was to stay focused all the time.
Could India have done anything differently post lunch?
I think after lunch session, we knew that they would come aggressive towards us but we wanted to take wickets that time. I felt Virat kept really good field positions to our bowlers but again, Chandimal played some good sweep shots and good loop shots also to Amit Mishra over square-leg. We were just talking about cutting down boundaries and giving them singles and maybe after tea, we came back really well. We gave hardly 60-75 runs, I feel, after tea. Overall, it was a good bowling effort, credit to them as well but happy with the way the bowlers bowled.
