Aggressive intent to continue: Ajinkya Rahane

Last season, India's limited-overs build-up was towards the ICC World T20. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India played nine T20 Internationals against South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka and in Asia Cup as a preparation for the biennial event.

This time around, a confident India, fresh from their 3-0 Test series win over New Zealand, begin their ODI-leg of the series with the first game in Dharamsala on Sunday. The aim will be to get the right combination for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England in June 2017.

Though key bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Shami have been rested for the five-match ODIs, the focus will be on the batsmen who can make an impression over the eight ODIS – five against New Zealand and three against England early next year – that India have until the Champions Trophy.

While KL Rahul is recovering from a hamstring injury, the selectors have excluded Karun Nair and Faiz Fazal, the trio who did opening duty in India's last ODI series in Zimbabwe in June when the main players were rested.

While Rohit Sharma will return to the ODI scheme of things after having given the break for Zimbabwe trip, Ajinkya Rahane is expected to open for India in the upcoming series, unless the selectors and the team think-tank decide to go in with other combination like having Mandeep Singh open with Sharma.

It is important for India to get the right combination in their quest to retaining the Champions Trophy – it is an altogether different matter if India will participate in it at all after BCCI president Anurag Thakur said recently that it may have to choose between IPL and the CT if Lodha Committee recommendations are to be strictly adhered to.

Not thinking too far ahead, however, is the Indian team, who began their preparation for the series on Friday after the team members assembled the previous evening.

"It is important to focus on this series rather than think about Champions Trophy. Guys coming in did well for India 'A' and Ranji Trophy. It is all about giving them the confidence, the opportunity at the highest level. We will take it one game at a time. CT is too far away right now," batsman Ajinkya Rahane said before Friday's nets at the HPCA Stadium.

Only five days ago, Rahane scored his Test career-best 188 and will be looking forward to carrying on that form into the ODIs. Just like India will be eager to continue winning.

Rahane said his team will look to play with the same intensity that they displayed in Tests. "The kind of cricket we played in the Test series, our intent was aggressive all the time. Here also, we will play intensive cricket and play to our strengths rather than focus on the opposition," Rahane said.

Talking about shifting to ODIs, he said: "I am really looking forward to the ODIs. It's important to start fresh after winning the Tests 3-0. Momentum will be the key. Winning the first match will give us momentum. Am excited about the new guys coming in. it is really energising. Everyone is looking in good shape. Some of the guys did well for India 'A' and in the Ranji Trophy."

A season in which India will be playing an increased number of Tests – three already finished and 10 to go – the challenge will be to adjust from one format to the other. Rahane said that his team is used to it and are better with experience.

"I believe it is mental adjustment. We, as professional cricketers adjust to any format. Tests to T20 or Tests to ODI. To get used to the conditios is a big factor. We are tuned into that. We have experience in that. It is all about how you deal with certain situation or a certain factor. I will stick to my strengths and mental adjustments will be the key," said the 28-year-old who averages 33.22 and with 2,093 ODI runs.