Chepauk pitch will turn from day one, feels Rahane

Chennai: India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane feels that the Chepauk pitch for the second Test against England is a completely different from the one used for the first Test and will offer serious turn from the very first day.

In the first Test, which India lost by 227 runs, the pitch didn’t have anything for bowlers. However, the fresh pitch, with a darker and drier look, seems to be a spin-friendly deck.

“Yeah, it looks completely different. I am sure it will turn from day 1 but again as I have said before the first Test match, you have to wait and see how it plays in the first session and take it from there on,” Rahane said at the pre match virtual press conference on Friday.

“but yeah we have to forget what happened in the first Test. We know these conditions really well and we have to put our best foot forward tomorrow and yeah that’s it,” he added.

This will be the first time in Test history that India is going to play back-to-back matches at the same venue.

On India’s playing XI, Rahane did not disclosed much and said everyone is in the mix.

“Everyone is in the mix and good thing is Axar is fit and I am not going to tell you who is going to play tomorrow. See all our spinners are really good and given a chance they will all do really well,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association has put in place a number of health protocols as fans are being allowed for an international sporting event in India for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak in March last year.

The vice-captain said it means a lot to the team to have the backing of the home crowd.

“We are really excited to have people hereon. It means a lot to get the support from a crowd. Hope people will come here and enjoy our cricket,” said Rahane. (UNI)