Kohli: Anil bhai's arrival is a big boost

If you are afraid of losing, you won't be able to try things out and you won't know what your ability is. Playing with the right mindset makes a big difference, and Anil bhai's arrival is a big boost because he thought the same way.

Published : Jul 04, 2016 14:28 IST , Bengaluru

Virat Kohli praised coach Anil Kumble's attacking mindset and hoped his fearless attitude will rub off on the players.
Virat Kohli praised coach Anil Kumble's attacking mindset and hoped his fearless attitude will rub off on the players.
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Virat Kohli praised coach Anil Kumble's attacking mindset and hoped his fearless attitude will rub off on the players.

In his debut as Test captain, Virat Kohli revealed an adventurous mindset rarely seen in his predecessors. India needed 364 to win on the final day of the Adelaide Test against Australia, over a year ago, and in a situation where most generals would have opted for a tame ceasefire, Kohli ordered his troops to go out all guns blazing.

Even though the exercise resulted in a loss, the Delhi cricketer's thrill-seeking ways proved to be a refreshing sight. Kohli is intent on continuing this approach, with new coach Anil Kumble backing him to the hilt.

Ahead of leaving to the West Indies for a four-Test series, the India skipper spoke to the media here on Monday.

Listen to Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble interacting with the media

Excerpts:-

Going for the win:

If you are afraid of losing, you won't be able to try things out and you won't know what your ability is. Playing with the right mindset makes a big difference, and Anil bhai's arrival is a big boost because he thought the same way. He believed that his team could win a match from any situation. He has done it a number of times. You would be wondering where a wicket is going to come from, and he would come in and take 4-5 wickets in a single spell.

Kumble and the winning mindset:

To teach skills is one thing, but to teach the right mindest is entirely different. You can teach people how to have the right mindset only when you have experienced things yourself. This is the biggest advantage of having Anil bhai as coach, and that was our singular motive to have him here. This is the man who has won so many matches for India, both home and away. He can tell us about the skills and mental aspects needed to win Test matches.

Qualities of an ideal coach:

It doesn't matter if the coach is an Indian or a foreigner. What matters is how he treats the players, if he makes them feel comfortable, and what he can provide to the players. These are the three factors that you look for in a head coach. Anil bhai has all three in abundance. We have huge respect for him, but he makes all of us players feel comfortable. He is always involved with the players in some way or the other, which is his best quality.

Fit-again Mohammed Shami:

Shami is a really skillful guy. The way the ball is released, where he pitches the ball – it is more or less perfect for Test cricket. His lines and the lengths are always attacking, no matter what the wicket is like. The best thing about him is that he can bowl conventional swing as well as reverse-swing. We have been working with him on his mental strength. We saw how good he can be with reverse-swing during the home series against West Indies (in 2013). In short bursts, if you want a good attacking spell, Shami can deliver. Shami has pace and a great bouncer too.

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