'Our goal will be to dominate' – Ajinkya Rahane

The two-match Test series against Windies will afford India to re-establish their credentials in the long format after a 4-1 defeat against England overseas. It will also be an opportunity for India to blood in new talent such as Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal and Mohammed Siraj.

Rahane said India would look to dominate the series against Windies, which gets underway at Rajkot from 4 October.

"Our goal will be to play good cricket, definitely to dominate," said Rahane on Tuesday, 2 October. "But improvement, however you look at it – as a batsman, as a bowler and also as a team... what are we going to gain... that will be our focus."

Rahane asked the newcomers in the team to utilise the series as an opportunity to express themselves, advising them to stay in the moment and not worry about the future.

"I Think it's an opportunity, particularly for guys that are coming in – Prithvi (Shaw), Mayank (Agarwal), (Mohammed) Siraj. They all did well in domestic cricket and India A matches. So it's an opportunity, as a team we should do well and personally also... if an individual is set, they can make it count as a batsman. As a bowler, if you're going well, you can pick five or more wickets.

"They know their role in the team and the team management is backing each and every individual. As a newcomer, it is about going out there and expressing yourself rather than thinking about the future or think about what is going to happen after these two Test matches," Rahane.

India are coming into the series straight from victory in the Asia Cup, and confidence in the camp should be pretty high, but it's a different format.

"Yes, we won the Asia Cup and that was a big achievement. Everyone who got an opportunity did well. But this is a new series, and for us it is important that we build on the positives and advance our games through the course of this series," said Rahane.

Asked about the inclusion of Prithvi Shaw, his Mumbai teammate who is likely to make his debut in the first Test, Rahane waxed lyrical about the prodigy.

"I'm definitely happy for him. I've been following him since his young days for Mumbai, we practised together. He's an attacking opening batsman. He's been doing so well for Mumbai, India A on a consistent basis, so that's the reward he got. I'm sure he'll do well," Rahane said.