Test cricket and IPL are completely different: Ajinkya Rahane

England's tour of India gets underway. Team India is set to host the Three Lions in 4 Tests, 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of the first Anthony de Mello Test match, India vice captain Ajinkya Rahane talked about the camaraderie with some of the English players who used to be his teammates during the past seasons of the Indian Premier League.

"See, we definitely play in the IPL, but Test cricket and IPL are completely different. We do know how their bowlers bowl here, but length (that one bowl) is completely different in Test cricket from what they are in white-ball (formats)," Ajinkya Rahane said.

Rahane also answered a question relating to whether they discuss strategies between the teams, given the fact that they play in the IPL quite often. 

"What we do in IPL, it's not like we tell them all the things and I think that is very important. Yes, we have played a lot of cricket together, but when you represent the country, it is all about how best you can give individually and as a team," he said.

The 32-year-old commended England's performance against Sri Lanka.

"Ben Stokes and (Jofra) Archer, they are really good players. They did really well for England, so it is not about any individual. I think it is all about a team, the England team, they are a very balanced outfit which did really well recently against Sri Lanka," Rahane told during the pre-match press conference.

With the opposition in good form, Team India will look to plan and execute strategies for each of their players in order to gain the upper hand. This series is of impeccable significance for the teams. Victory here will see one of them getting their ticket booked for the World Test Championship final at Lord's.

"So for us, what is important is that we plan against all their guys and just play as a team here and back our strengths," the 32-year-old added.