India’s batsmen must step up and help their bowlers if the world’s top-ranked Test side are to win more consistently away from home, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane said on Monday ahead of the third Test against Australia.
India, who last lost a Test series at home in late 2012 against England, suffered defeats in South Africa and England this year due to a lack of batting support.
Their openers have struggled in Australia in the first two Tests and the lack of runs at the top has intensified pressure on the middle order of a team which has a lengthy tail.
“The batsmen definitely need to step up,” Rahane, who has scored 164 from his four innings including two fifties, told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s third Test.
“When we discuss the batting unit, that point is very important. Especially when we are abroad, the bowlers have been taking 20 wickets since South Africa, so if the batsmen help the bowlers the results will be favouring us.”
