Kohli fires confidence
ON THE eve of India’s Test series against the West Indies, recently appointed captain Virat Kohli is being hailed for ushering in a positive mindset after the Mahendra Singh Dhoni era.
Hailing Test skipper Kohli’s influence on the team, legspinner Amit Mishra said the Delhi batsman has infused a new and positive environment into the Indian cricket team.
“(Virat) Kohli is a positive person and he has created a similar positive environment within the team. He always supports me. There are no boundaries. Whenever I want to share something with him, I am free to express my opinion,” Mishra, who is in West Indies for the Test series, told bcci.tv.
“He tells me, ‘You’re a wicket-taking bowler and that is what you must do. You stay positive and stick to your strengths. Do not think about anything else’.”
Mishra believes the past experience of having played here and the guidance of new head coach and legendary leggie Anil Kumble will help him in the upcoming matches.
“Yes, the experience is going to help. I have played only one Test, but played more one-day cricket in the Caribbean. Anil Bhai is with us (as head coach) and his experience is going to matter a lot. He has played here and he keeps telling us about the conditions. We will utilise his experience and form a strategy together,” Mishra said.
Asked what suggestions he takes from Kumble, the 33-yearold said: “There are many things that he tells me, such as my bowling technique, landing and finishing.
“Looking at the wicket, he tells me what are the areas where I can bowl and the kind of fields that I can set on a slow wicket.”
Mishra also talked about his training regime and how he practises deliveries aiming at a single stump.
“I bowl about two hours daily in the nets and also bowl with one stump for another half-hour so that I do not lose my accuracy. It requires a lot of effort and I never shy away from working hard. I make sure that when I am not able to land my variation in the right spots, my leg spin, which is my most important weapon, works perfectly,” he said.
“There are times when as a bowler you do not get the desired rhythm and in those times your leg spin (stock ball) must land perfectly. I bowl a lot in the nets and that is the reason I have been able to be more accurate.”
Delhi-born Mishra added he would not hesitate to try to seam up deliveries, an art which he has successfully developed during the Indian Premier League.
“Definitely. If there is a need to try that out, I will not hesitate. Test cricket is very different from limited overs so I feel I may not be required to bowl that kind of a delivery,” he added.
India begin their campaign on July 21 at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. – IANS