New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) may have brought overseas players closer but that has no effect when they play against each other in international cricket, said India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, ahead of the first Test match in Chennai against England.
Addressing the same in a recent media interaction Rahane was asked a question that read, ‘How much will that help England during the upcoming series?” replying to Rahane said that
“Playing IPL is completely different from Test cricket,” Rahane, who led India to a series victory in Australia recently told media. He also said that players don’t share all their vulnerabilities or weaknesses with the foreign players while playing in the IPL.
“See, we definitely play in the IPL, but Test cricket and IPL are completely different. We do know how their bowlers bowl here, but length is completely different in Test cricket from what they are in white-ball (formats),” Rahane said.
“What we do in IPL, it’s not like we tell them all the things and I think that is very important. Yes, we have played a lot of cricket together, but when you represent the country, it is all about how best you can give individually and as a team.”
The current Test team in England has Joffra Archer, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who have long been part of the IPL. In such a situation, these players can be quite knowledgeable about the strategy of the Indian players. While he admitted that Archer and Stokes are key players for England, he said one can’t ignore the kind of balance that the opposition squad as a whole possesses.
“Ben Stokes and (Jofra) Archer, they are really good players. They did really well for England, so it is not about any individual. I think it is all about a team, England team, they are a very balanced outfit which did really well recently against Sri Lanka. So for us, what is important is that we plan against all their guys and just play as a team here and back our strengths.” Rahane added.
India will play England in the first Test in Chennai.
