Indian captain Virat Kohli felt the one-off Test was a very good win against Bangladesh here on Monday considering the "nature of the wicket".
Speaking to media at the end of the match, Kohli felt it was an important toss to win on this kind of pitch and put up a big score.
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“I think we bowled really well. Both the pacers and the spinners showed the kind of quality they are made off,” he said. “Especially, Ishant today was really good. We needed that kind of effort to get the breakthroughs. It is always a great feeling as a captain to have three attacking seamers.”
“No matter how many runs you score, unless you pick up 20 wickets you don’t win matches. This is the reason why I say they (bowlers) are the match-winners. They should be given the credit for a great show,” Kohli added.
“Unfortunately, the contribution of the pacers goes unnoticed (at home). It is always the man of the match and the man of the series awardees who are in the focus. It is these guys (bowlers) who deserve the credit too for chipping in with vital contributions in the context of the game,” praised Kohli.
“It gives me great option as a captain to have three seamers who have the pace and can bowl the reverse swing,” he said. “We all know Ishant and Umesh can do that. Now Bhuvi has been doing that in the last few games because his fitness level has increased,” he added.
When asked about the impact he has had as a batsman in India, Kohli pointed that even when he did perform well, there were others who stepped up to deliver. “I don’t think the batting performances of my team-mates are because I am doing well and that is rubbing on to them. If you remember, when I was not doing well there were other guys who stepped up. They held the team through. So, it has always been a team effort for India in recent years with someone stepping up at some stage or the other.”
Commenting on the pitch, Kohli said that pitches in India at this time of the year were usually slow and low. “It was a very good batting track with nothing for the bowlers, I must say. I was surprised to score a double century in such quick time. If it were to take turn on third day of the match, it would have been a typical Indian wicket,” he observed.
“It was important to get into the rhythm going into the big series against Australia soon,” he said.
The India captain felt that the team should have closed off the Bangladesh second innings much quicker. “I think there were some lapses in fielding and body language. It is important to close out the second innings and not give the opposition any chance (to come back),” Kohli felt.
On what he learnt as a captain, Kohli said that earlier he used to be relentless when things were not happening. “Now, for instance when wickets are not falling, I am more patient as I realise I just can’t do anything during that phase. But, I am happy to see the energy levels are up always in the team,” he said.
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