EVERYONE HAS BEEN SPOKEN TO INDIVIDUALLY, SAYS KOHLI
JOHANNESBURG: India captain Virat Kohli said the team management sat down with every batsmen and discussed where they had gone wrong in the previous two Tests. Going into the third Test 2-0 down, Kohl is aid the onus is on the batsmen to not repeat their mistakes and consolidate good starts.
“Everyone has been spoken to individually. The discussions have happened as to what went wrong, what happened, why it happened and the guys have taken it well. As I said, anytime you step on to the field, you have an opportunity to correct your mistakes, and that’s how you progress at international level.
“I am sure everyone is looking forward to rectifying those mistakes, and then if they are in the same position, consolidating those positions ,” Kohl is aid at the pre-match press conference.
Kohli said he was more than satrisfied with his bowlers who have dismissed South Africa four times across both Tests and though the series is lost, it won’t be a bad time for the batsmen to put up their hands to be counted. “It’ s a chance for everyone to step up in times that have not gone our way and to change things around. That will build characters, that will build individuals and that will build personalities. That can be a milestone for guys going forward if they can step up in this game and be the difference for us in this Test. So it’s never a bad time to start,” he said.
BUILD-UP PHASE
Coach Ravi Shastri had said 10 more days of practice could have helped but Kohli didn’t agree. “I personally don’t feel we didn’t feel prepared starting this series. I won’t sit here and point that out after losing a Test series ,” he said.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis expects India to come back hard at them after losing the series. “I think once again, India will come back with a point to prove.
“They are a proud team that wouldn’ t want togo down 3-0. The difference between us and India is there’ s more batters contributing to that partnership,” he said.
I personally don’t feel that we didn’t feel prepared starting this series, I won’t sit here and point that out after losing a Test series. VIRAT KOHLI, India skipper