Ajinkya Rahane: Virat was and will always be the captain of Test team

Ajinkya Rahane, India’s stand-in skipper for the Australia tour, was right on the money throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, leading India to a historic series win which started a debate of whether Rahane should take over India’s captaincy full-time.

People were divided into both sides of the debate but the man himself has put the questions to rest as the side return to the home cauldron for the series against England. Throwing his weight behind Kohli, the Mumbaikar stated that Kohli was and would always be the captain of the Test team and he is happy being the deputy.

“Nothing changes. Virat was and will always be the captain of the Test team and I am his deputy. When he was absent it was my duty to lead the side and my responsibility to give my best for Team India’s success,” Rahane told PTI.

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“It’s not the matter of merely being a captain. How you perform the captain’s role is what’s more important. So far I have been successful. Hopefully, in the future also, I will try to give these kinds of results for my team.”

Rahane: I’ve had a good relationship with Kohli

Before the tour began, in a chat with Steve Smith, Kohli spoke highly about Ajinkya Rahane and stated how eager he was to see his deputy scoring runs heavily in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rahane stated that the duo shares a great bonding and it helps that they have many memorable partnerships for the country in the longest format.

“Me and Virat have always shared a good bonding with each other. He has time and again praised my batting. Both of us played memorable knocks for our team in India and overseas conditions. It only helped that Virat comes at No.4 and myself at No.5. We have had a lot of partnerships,” the 32-year-old said.

“We have always backed each other’s game. When we are at the crease, we discuss threadbare about the opposition’s bowling. We caution each other whenever one of us plays a rash shot.

“Virat is a sharp captain. He takes good on-field decisions. Whenever the spinners are in operation, he is banking on me and he believes that taking those catches at slips off (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja is one of my core competence areas. Virat expects a lot from me and I try and ensure not to let him down,” said Rahane.

The duo will be seen together taking the field on February 5 when India will host England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.