India swept Sri Lanka across all formats in a full series in their last tour.Now India are hosting a return series comprising three Tests and equal number of ODIs and T20Is. On Tuesday Ajinkya Rahane said their 9-0 clean sweep in Sri Lanka will have no bearing in the return series and they remain focussed on maintaining the No. 1 spot in Tests.
“This series is completely different compared to what we played in Sri Lanka. We are not taking Sri Lanka lightly even as we had a good series there.Right now if we want to remain as number one in Tests. Every series is very important. We want to win each and every series. We know the conditions here.The low-profile Sri Lanka series is seen as a prelude to their gruelling two months’ tour to South Africa against whom they will play three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is in January-February next year”, Rahane told a news conference.
He also said they are aiming to play well to gain more confidence ahead of the tour to South Africa.
“For us each and every match and series is important before going to South Africa. We will think of South Africa when we go there. Right now we are focusing on this series. South Africa will be completely different.Even for Sri Lanka this is a very important series and they are preparing really well. We don’t want to take them lightly. We are just focusing on this series right now and the first game in Kolkata. We respect Sri Lanka and we just want to play our game, focus on our strengths rather than thinking about their combination or their strategies,” he added.
He was asked about his curent form.Earlier Hardik Pandya was rested for this series.
