We will play better against South Africa spinners: Rahane

India's middle-order mainstay Ajinkya Rahane today promised that the team's batsmen would put up a much more impressive display against spinners in the coming four-Test series against South Africa than they had in the last few rubbers.

Agreeing that Indian batsmen did not do too well against the spinning ball in Sri Lanka, Rahane said things would be different against South Africa at home.

"Unfortunately, we got out to spinners in Sri Lanka. We played fast bowling very well in Australia and South Africa. The intention was to play out their first spells and then take them on. We are just looking to improve against spin in the series against South Africa. I'm confident in the series against South Africa we will do well against spin," he said.

While rubbishing suggestions that the current lot of batsmen were suspect against quality spin bowling, Rahane said, "I don't think we are playing spin bowling badly. In Sri Lanka, you have to give credit to their spinners. Rangana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal bowled very well."

Rahane said with the team preferring to play with five frontline bowlers, the onus was on batsmen to give them enough time to get 20 wickets for a Test win.

"With five bowlers playing as batsmen, it was our responsibility to get quick runs. We wanted to give enough time to the bowlers to take 20 wickets. That was our mindset in Sri Lanka," said Rahane, who scored a century in the second innings of the second Test for a winning cause.

Rahaneattributed former India and Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid for shaping him into a top fielder as he now holds the world record for most catches.

"I have been playing with one of the world's greatest slip catchers. I used to practise with the fielding coach by taking 50-100 catches daily. That has helped me. Patience, calmness and anticipation are the key elements in slip catching," he added.

The Mumbaikar, who has made it a habit of switching well from one format of the game to another with felicity, said it all boiled down to making mental adjustments.

"The challenge is to make the adjustments in the mind from one format to another and how quickly you do it. The preparations have also been important," said Rahane.