Kohli: ‘We are ready for any opposition’

Virat Kohli is leading a rather invincible looking Indian team as it heads into the first Test match against Australia in Pune starting on Thursday.

Published : Feb 22, 2017 12:28 IST , Pune

Captaincy has led Kohli to taking his game to another level – he averages a stunning 67.22 as captain, and has scored double hundreds in four consecutive series
Captaincy has led Kohli to taking his game to another level – he averages a stunning 67.22 as captain, and has scored double hundreds in four consecutive series
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Captaincy has led Kohli to taking his game to another level – he averages a stunning 67.22 as captain, and has scored double hundreds in four consecutive series

 

Virat Kohli is leading a rather invincible looking Indian team as it heads into the first Test match against Australia in Pune starting on Thursday. Talking to the media on Wednesday, Kohli said the team is in a different mindset and a good head space going into the game.

Steve's quotes

The captain singled out the Rajkot match against England as a turning point for the team. India had to battle hard to save that game after England posted 537 on the board, “The England series was tough and the first game where we had to dig out a draw, which was more like avoiding defeat and wasn’t convincing. Ever since that the team is in a different mind space and is ready to face any opposition.”

Kohli also said that the team will not be concerned about the strategy opposition goes with, and will be more focused on its performance “We are aware of their skills and weaknesses but at the same time that will not decide how we play against them. We are in a good head space and will be more focused on executing our plans.”

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Captaincy has led Kohli to taking his game to another level – he averages a stunning 67.22 as captain, and has scored double hundreds in four consecutive series. “Captaincy has worked well for me. It gives you extra responsibility and leaves no room for complacency. You focus more on certain situations and I guess that has helped me,“ he said.

His opposite number Steve Smith too has led from the front, and he averages 73.73 – more than Kohli – as captain. Kohli praised his opposite number and said that there is a reason why Smith is the Number One ranked Test player in the world. “He has been performing consistently with the bat even before being the captain, and I feel extra responsibility has also urged him to improve his game. It’s also a remarkable achievement, considering he started off as a leg spinner and is now such a great batsman. I feel both of us have the same mind set regarding captaincy.”

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