Indian Test captain Virat Kohli has always favoured including five bowlers in the eleven and he is likely to do the same during the three-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Advertisement
“Basically, it’s my first full-fledged assignment as Test captain. That is very exciting for me personally to play a full series as a captain and to be able to have the opportunity of executing certain things that we want to do as a team”.
“I think players deserve a bit of cooling period for them to recover from small niggles as they are very important part of the team”. Now, speaking ahead of his team’s departure for Sri Lanka, he once again stressed the importance of taking 20 wickets in a Test match, while also pointing out that such a strategy will require his bowlers to chip in with the bat too when required.
“I am certain that if we prepare well and if we have the right kind of vision, we will do really well in Sri Lanka and I am very confident of the whole team and hopefully I can do the job given to me by the BCCI and the faith that has been shown by them over all these years”. I think that is one of the major reasons that the board (BCCI) thought that I can be the one to take the responsibility.
India have not played much of Test cricket this year and Kohli’s form has been rather indifferent in the ODI arena where he hasn’t scored a hundred since February. “In Bangladesh, we had just a one-off Test match”. He insists his lack of runs will not come in the way of his agg-ressive leadership. I strongly believe that you need to have your best bowlers playing in the XI to give the team the best chance to do that. “And I will continue to do so till the time I play for my country”, he asserted. “It all boils down to how you play your cricket eventually, and that’s the way I have always played the game – be it while fielding for the side or while batting, I always want to give 100 per cent”. Vijay has got runs for us consistently. We have had a decent break, while I had a three-week off. That is the reason why we decided we want him in the side as well. He has given us solid starts.
Before leaving for the Sri Lanka tour, he wanted to get some vital practice by playing in the second four-day game between India A and Australia A.
Terming it as a challenge playing any team on their home turf Ajinkya Rahane said that he would not like to put a number as to what he would like his average score in the three-match series to be. He played him differently to other people and that sometimes is the difference.
“He (Murali Vijay) has always been a very very solid opener for India”. It was helpful having Rahul closely monitoring what I was doing.
“If results follow or results go away it is good to create a bit of history but one just need to focus on the process as these things are far fetched may be after a month we will be able to analyse and sit down and talk about it”. Really it is not something I understand. I think he needs to get more opportunity there.
Advertisement
The first Test between the two sides will be played at the Galle global Stadium, and the remaining two – from August 20 – 24 and August 28 – September 1 – will be played in Colombo.
