Rahane reveals Kohli's message to team before departing, divulges plan post Adelaide rout

Revealing skipper Virat Kohli's motivating words to team before his departure, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane said that Team India will 'definitely' miss a player of Virat's stature. Rahane spoke about team dinner at elaide after humiliating defeat in first Test of series against Australia and also highlighted Kohli's words to team before he boarded flight back to India. Kohli will t be featuring in remaining three Tests as he has travelled back home for birth of his first child. 

"Virat spoke to all of us before leaving. We h our team dinner at elaide, so he spoke to all of us, about being positive, just playing to our strength and to play as a team, as a unit. That's what we have been doing for so many years and it is all about that - about staying in moment, playing for each or and enjoying each or's success," Rahane revealed. 

stand-in skipper also shed light on team's plans after elaide rout and said that visitor's plan to stick to basics and play to ir strength. dressing a virtual press conference on eve of Boxing Day Test, Rahane said, "Talking about last Test, we h two good days, just one b hour where we actually lost it but it was all about backing ourselves as an individual and as a team. Play to our strengths. Our record at MCG is really good but what is important for all of us is to start well. It's all about staying in moment, reing situation well."

He also spoke about importance of bowling in partnership and asserted that Jasprit Bumrah has been really good for Team India. "Apart from that, Umesh and guys who'll play inste of Shami tomorrow y are also equally talented. Umesh has been doing really well for so many years. It's all about bowling in partnership for us. Having said that, we have discussed how we are going about it," Rahane said. 

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When asked about opportunity to le India in Tests, Rahane said, "It's a proud moment for me to be leing India. Its a great opportunity and responsibility as well. I don't want to take any pressure. What I want to do is back my teammates and as a team, we want to do well. So as a team, focus is on that and t me. It's t on me." 32-year-old also touched upon pre-match mind games being played by Australia and stated that he would rar focus on his team. 

"Australians are very good at playing mind games and I will let m do that. We are focussing on ourselves, what we want to do as a unit and we are going to back our every individual," Rahane said on eve of match.

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Team India anunce playing XI 

With just a day to go for Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Team India released its playing XI on Friday morning, anuncing 4 changes to team fielded at elaide. While under-fire Prithvi Shaw has been benched, young gun Shubman Gill has been handed his debut. Mohammed Siraj has also been roped in as third pacer to join Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yav as Shami has been ruled out of series owing to an injury. Moreover, Ajinkya Rahane has brought in Rishabh Pant in place of Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jeja for Virat Kohli. 

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Australia to remain unchanged at MCG

Australia He coach Justin Langer has confirmed that hosts will field same playing XI as in first Test on Friday. second Test of Border Gavaskar Trophy is slated to begin on Friday in front of nearly 30,000 fans at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). "I'll be a pretty courous man to change playing XI this Test match after last one. Unless something happens over next few days and that can in world we live but we are going with same XI," Langer said in a virtual press-conference on Thursday.

RE | Justin Langer Confirms Australia Will Field Same XI For Boxing Day Test As At elaide