Virat keen to prove mettle before British public: Shastri

BIRMINGHAM: Success in the last four years has driven Virat Kohli to a different level “mentally” and the India skipper would like to show the British public in the Test series why he is eulogised as the best player in the world, said India coach Ravi Shastri.

With scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0,7, 6 and 20 in five Tests, Kohli averaged a horrendous 13.50 in his 10 innings during the 2014 England tour.

Coming into the upcoming series, all eyes are on Kohli, who has evolved as one of the finest batsmen in the world in the last four years.

“Look at his (Kohli’s) record. I don’t have to spell out what he has done in the last four years. When you perform in that fashion, you are mentally at a different level as well. You are waiting for whatever test comes your way,” Shastri told Espncricinfo.

“Yes, he might have had an ordinary series when he came here four years ago. But four years down the line he is the best player in the world. He would like to get out there and show the British public why he is the best player in the world.”

Shastri said he believed in playing aggressive brand of cricket, which is a prerequisite to come out on top in a tough tour, like England.

“Fearless cricket. Trust your instincts. Play your natural game. Results will happen. We will have some fun. We are aggressive. We play to win. Even this series we are playing to win,” he said.

“We are not here to draw games or fill in the numbers. We play every game to win and take the game forward. And if in trying to win we lose a game, tough luck. As long as we win more than we lose, we are happy.”

Having achieved considerable amount of success in limited overs cricket, Shastri now wants India to become consistent in the red ball format. He said India has the potential to become one of the best travellers.

“We have done exceptionally well in white-ball cricket. We showed some very good signs in South Africa as far as the red ball is concerned. We want to carry that forward. The challenge for us is to be consistent in the redball format overseas,” Shastri said. “We believe we have the potential to be one of the best travelling teams. At the moment, there is no side in the world that travels properly.”

LOSING BHUVI, BUMRAH NOT AN ISSUE : GOUGH

Former England pacer Darren Gough feels India have enough firepower in their pace attack to cover for the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah in the first Test.

“India aren’t a side anymore that is dependent on one bowler,”said Gough. “Today, you have to be on top of your game to beat India, whether you are playing at home or away because they possess everything in their bowling attack.”