Can’t let energies drop, says Kohli as India go Down Under
FINAL FRONTIER India seek reversal in Tests after failed SA, England attempts MUMBAI: SILVER LINING
When India last played Australia — at home in 2017 — ‘it was almost like a war out there’ is how a team member had described the atmosphere to a correspondent. As usual, India captain Virat Kohli was in the thick of things, giving it back to the Australians every time they tried to pick on his men.
But a surprise may be in store for Kohli as he leads the team in a highly anticipated tour of Australia comprising three Twenty20s, four Tests and five One-dayers. He can expect to be greeted by a mellowed down Australian team who are under pressure to live up to the ‘Elite Honesty’ condition that their cricket board has imposed on them. Look no further than the recent one-day series against South Africa where Australia seemed to have turned over a new leaf.
“I think that’s a very personal thing (Elite Honesty) for them. But when it comes to getting engaged in an argument on the field, I have been completely okay with playing without the altercation,” Kohli said.
Anyway, the Indian team never starts altercations, said Kohli. “We were always the ones giving it back. So as long as it does not start we have no problem in just focusing on our game and doing what we need to do. If they want to play a certain way we will reciprocate in that way, that’s how the game of cricket goes. But at the same time in our own minds we will have to keep it competitive and not let our energies drop. That will be our main focus.”
On a personal level, Kohli said he doesn’t feel the need to go and find the extra needle anymore. “I have enough belief in my abilities. I can play without a reason to pump myself up, and those are very immature things that I used to feed on in my early days of my career.”
The Indian team embarks on their tour Down Under with hopes of achieving a maiden Test series win, looking to make it count after fluffing their best chances of triumph in South Africa and England this year.
One of the reasons behind the failures has been the batting unit’s inability to fire together, making it look heavily reliant on Kohli. The Indian captain scored 593 runs in five Tests against England but India still lost 4-1.
If they can raise good scores, India has the pace arsenal to put Australia under pressure. “We are feeling good that we have a great (pace) bowling attack now but the batsmen need to step up, which we have spoken as a team after England and everyone really keen to correct those things and put in a complete performance,” said Kohli.
NO MORE CHANGING IN ODI TEAM: SHASTRI
Terming the 2019 World Cup as their main focus after the Test series, India coach Ravi Shastri declared there would be no more chopping and changing in the one-day team.
“As far as one-day cricket is concerned we will try to play close to the 15 that will go to the World Cup. Chopping and changing is over,” said Shastri.
Now is the time to play as a unit. Hopefully we will not get injuries so that we have to look elsewhere. We will try and play the best team at all times.”