Ajinkya Rahane happy to hand India captaincy back to Virat Kohli for England series

Deputy took over reins in Australia as team secured famous victory Down Under

Rishabh Pant celebrates victory with his India teammates after Day 5 of the 4th Test against Australia. Getty

Rishabh Pant celebrates with teammates after India win the fourth Test and the series against Australia. EPA

Fans cheer during day five of the 4th Test Match between Australia and India at The Gabba. Getty Images

Australia paceman Pat Cummins celebrates the wicket of India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara. AFP

Rishabh Pant falls as he hits the ball for four runs . AP

Rishabh Pant of India bats during day five of the 4th Test. Getty Images

India's Washington Sundar avoids a bouncer during play on the final day. AP

Pat Cummins bowls during day five of the 4th Test. Getty

Pat Cummins looks frustrated after Washington Sundar hits a six during day five of the 4th Test. Getty Images

Washington Sundar hits the ball over the boundary for a six during day five of the 4th Test. Getty Images

Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne celebrate the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara. AFP

Australia's Nathan Lyon dives to grab the ball as India's batsman Cheteshwar Pujara looks on. AFP

India batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant run between the wickets. AFP

Pat Cummins celebrates with teammates after getting the wicket of Mayank Agarwal. EPA

Ajinkya Rahane insists he is all too happy to hand the India captaincy back to Virat Kohli and take a backseat role against England despite presiding over one of the most famous wins in their history.

India looked to be in total disarray in Australia, losing the series opener in Adelaide when they were bowled out for 36 – their lowest Test total – with Kohli leaving the touring party immediately afterwards on paternity leave.

Rahane stepped up from his position as Kohli's deputy for the final three Tests and his century at Melbourne was the catalyst for a stunning reversal in fortunes as India claimed a scarcely-believable 2-1 series win in Brisbane.

Kohli has returned to the ranks for the first of four Tests against England, which starts on Friday at Chennai, and Rahane is content at slipping into the background once more, offering advice but only when called upon.

"Virat is the captain," Rahane said. "He left Australia because of family reasons and that's why I became the captain.

"But originally Virat is the captain and I'm the vice-captain. I'm really happy that he's back with us which is really positive.

"There are a lot of things on a captain's mind so as a vice-captain, you have to visualise the situation and think about what can happen in the game, so if the captain asks you for some suggestions, you should be ready.

"My job is really easy, I take a backseat but whenever I'm required or he asks me about certain things, I'll just go and tell him, that helps us a lot."

India have had little time to revel in arguably their greatest overseas win, with just two-and-a-half weeks separating the end of their Australia tour and the start of the series against Joe Root's side.

Rahane and several others have spent a number of months in some form of controlled environment, but the middle-order batsman is adamant morale is high and that they are guarded against complacency.

"We're not mentally tired at all," Rahane said. "We are really tough mentally and we are a unit, we are a family. We're enjoying each other's company, spending time in a team room, families are here which is really important.

"Australia was really special for us and we did enjoy our victory, especially that night in Brisbane and when we came back home. But we are in the present now.

"What we learned from Australia was after losing a Test match in Adelaide, how we came back. It's all about staying in the moment. We respect the England team, we're not going to take them lightly."

England, meanwhile, have welcomed back a fit-again Ollie Pope to their squad.

Middle order batsman Pope, who injured his left shoulder against Pakistan in August, had been practising with the squad at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium which hosts the first two matches.

The England medical team are satisfied that he is available for selection," the team said in a statement.