Having led India to a historic series win against Australia after an embarrassing defeat in the first Test, cricketer Ajinkya Rahane would rather take the back seat and help returning skipper Virat Kohli during the upcoming series against England. 

“See, my job is to take a back seat and help Virat. You know as a captain, there are too many things in captain’s mind, so as a vice-captain, you have to visualise the situation, think about what can happen in the game and then if captain asks you some suggestions, you should be ready so my job is really easy,” Rahane said at a virtual press conference, PTI reported. 

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Rahane took leadership of the team after Kohli was on paternity leave to attend the birth of his first child following the implosion in the first Test in Adelaide, where the visitors were bowled out for their lowest-ever total of 36. 

However, Rahane led the counter-attack with a century in the Boxing Day Test win in Melbourne and helped India cap a stunning series win with win at Brisbane’s Gabba Stadium in the series decider, where Australia lost for the first time since 1988.

With a berth in the World Test Championship final at stake, Rahane said there was no room for complacency in the series against quality opposition like England. 

“I take a back seat, whenever required I’ll go and tell him (Virat) or whenever he ask me about certain things, I will just go and tell him. For me, personally I generally take a back seat whenever I am the vice-captain,” Rahane, a quiet person by nature, said. 

He also asserted that the Australia series was a thing of past and there will be no complacency within the hosts as against England. 

“Not at all, we know every series, every game is really important, especially in (this) Test championship. What happened in Australia that was really special but that is past again,” Rahane said. 

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“I don’t think we have to think too much about complacency or any other (thing), we know that what’s our strength and we know how the Indian wickets (pitches) behave. We respect England team. They did well in Sri Lanka, so basically we have to play good cricket, back our strengths and play as a team,” he added. 

He also downplayed India’s favourite tag for the upcoming series, a win in which will seal a date with New Zealand in the final of the World Test Championship, scheduled to be held at the Lord’s cricket ground in June. 

“The WTC final is three-four (five) months from now. The focus should be on present series. New Zealand played really well and deserved to be in the final. For us, it will be about taking one game at a time.”

Rahane did not confirm if Axar Patel will be handed his Test debut in the first match, starting February 5. 

“We will decide on the playing combination after tomorrow’s training.”

However, he did hint that the Indians’ are preparing for spin-friendly conditions. 

“I think the Indian wickets will always suits any spinner, so yes we know we are playing in India, we back our strengths. But we have to wait and watch, how it (the pitch) behaves from day one, but in India there is always assistance for spinners.”

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Hardik Pandya had his first training session on the day and Rahane evaded questions whether the all-rounder was bowling at the nets.

“He is working really hard on his game, as a bowler and also as a batsman,” was all he said.

He agreed that minor adjustments will be required as the action shifts from Australia to India but he is personally confident about his own batting.

“Yes, little bit adjustments needed, but at the moment, I have been batting really well. It is all about what the team requires in that particular situation and bat accordingly.

“For me, it is all about contribution for the team rather than thinking about my own performance or my own outcome. So I will give my 100 per cent, whatever the team requires in that certain situation and I feel really good about my batting.”