Kohli: 'We couldn’t apply ourselves in the second innings'

India captain Virat Kohli felt Australia played consistently and deserved to win the second Test of the India vs Australia Test series

India captain Virat Kohli (R) shakes hands with Australia skipper Tim Paine (L)

Virat Kohli walked in briskly but looked grim. A few television crews, a bit late for the press conference, were in a flap, setting their tripods, adjusting the cameras and there was the grating sound of wires and chairs being pulled. India had lost the second Test and its captain sat down to face the media but just before the first salvo was fired, Kohli’s face cleared. There was an air of resignation but essentially the tenor was about moving ahead.

READ: Australia decimates India, levels series

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BATTING BLIPS

In the second innings, we couldn’t apply ourselves as much as we should have. We were committed and fully determined in our batting effort in the first innings. Australia played more consistently, that’s why they won the match. Beyond that, I don’t need to over-analyse this game. As a team, we are still in a very good space. We know that if we show greater composure, we can repeat what we did in Adelaide.

UMESH OVER BHUVI

Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) hasn’t played a lot of four-day cricket recently and Umesh took ten wickets in his last Test and was in good bowling rhythm. So that was the reason behind picking Umesh.

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SPIN OPTION

As a team we didn’t want to think that we definitely wanted to consider a spinning option, especially (after) having a look at the pitch on day one. We thought a fast bowler is going to be more productive. We were pretty convinced about going in with four fast bowlers and I think they did pretty well.

OPENING BLUES

K.L. Rahul lost his timber in the first over, lengthening his spell of lean run in this series.

 

You just have to keep backing them, keep telling them that they belong. As a batting group, we have spoken a lot about those things. Executing it or not is again a thing of variables in a sport where you are up against a guy who is bowling a ball at you and then you can get out or you can survive or you can play a big innings. The guys are obviously looking forward to taking that responsibility.

THE PITCH-SIDE CHATTER

As long as there is no swearing the line doesn’t get crossed. There is banter going on. Even at Adelaide there was banter. It’s Test cricket at the end of the day, it has to be competitive.

HANDSCOMB’S CATCH 

I don’t think I showed any displeasure at the dismissal at all. Appeal was made on call and that’s it. It was done, Australia played better cricket and they deserved to win.