Press Trust of India
Bangalore, July 4: With the Indian cricket team geared up for their busiest Test season comprising 17 five-day games, skipper Virat Kohli aptly stated that the coming days will be an indicator as to how they have shaped up as a Test unit.
“This is the perfect situation and opportunity to challenge and assess ourselves as a Test team. These months will define how we play as Test cricket in coming years,” Kohli said at the pre-departure media conference ahead of Indian team’s tour of the West Indies.
Hailing Anil Kumble’s appointment as the team’s head coach, the Indian skipper said that now they have a man, who can also tell them how to win Test matches abroad.
“It is a huge boost for us that Anil bhai is our coach. Bowlers will definitely get better support due to his presence. Especially as he is someone who has won so many matches for the country and knows what it requires to win matches both India and abroad,” Kohli said praising Kumble.
The skipper also pointed out how Kumble has brought a refreshing change to the team bonding sessions. “Yesterday (Sunday), he arranged a team activity (cricketers had a Drum Circle session with Vasundhara Das’s group) and it was fun. It was a surprise for us. Often due to the rigours of international cricket, we forget about team bonding sessions.
“These sessions helps in building camaraderie which shows on field. Even Dhoni bhai, who came for the meeting (roadmap) joined us and enjoyed the session,” Kohli said mentioning that the limited overs captain also gave his inputs on the tour ahead.
Glovesman Wriddhiman Saha’s batting has been under scanner and KL Rahul is in the squad as the reserve keeper but Kohli made it clear that it would be the Bengal lad, who firmly remains the first-choice behind the stumps.
“Whenever KL (Rahul) has played, he has filled in the opener’s slot but when it comes to keeping Wriddhiman is our first-choice keeper. His batting has also improved a lot and we are backing him. In Test matches, when it comes to half chances, you need a specialist keeper who can execute catches properly. A part-time keeper will find this situation harder,” asserted the Indian Test skipper.
Kohli also spoke about how the batting group has worked hard and is prepared for all eventualities with specific skill practice, including countering reverse swing and playing sweep shots.
‘Perfect Test bowler’
Virat Kohli is delighted that fast bowler Mohammed Shami is back in the team as he has the ability to hit the ‘perfect Test match length’ while bowling. “Shami is obviously a very skillful guy and we all know that. He has a lot of ability with the ball. The way he releases and pitches the ball, it’s more than perfect for Test cricket. I mean the line and length that he hits is always attacking no matter how the wicket is,” informed Kohli. “Best thing is if its seaming and swinging, he can bowl the conventional line and length. If it’s reversing, he knows exactly where to bring the ball from. He has a great sense and feel of how to get a batsman out,” added Kohli.
Coach not ready to curb Kohli aggression
Bangalore: He will be the ‘last person to curb’ skipper Virat Kohli’s on-field aggression but newly-appointed chief coach Anil Kumble made it clear that as ‘ambassadors of India’ the players should also be aware that there exists a ‘thin line’ which needs to be respected.
“I love his aggression. I was also no different as I was very aggressive. But we were probably very different in terms of how we came across in the field. But I will be the last person to curb someone’s natural instincts,” Kumble told mediapersons, here Monday.
However, he also had a note of caution for all the aggressive players, including Kohli. “But we all know how important it is to be ambassadors of India and part of the Indian cricket team. That everybody understands. We will ensure that we never go overboard while being aggressive,” Kumble added with Kohli by his side.
Asked about the expectations from the upcoming four-Test series in the Caribbean, India’s highest ever wicket-taker said that the idea would always be to try for a victory as no team think in any other fashion.
“As a coach, you want the team to win and prepare them to the best of their abilities, to ensure that all areas are covered. Skill-wise as well as strategy-wise so that they are able to assess any situation and find a solution on their own. Good part is that we are playing a lot of Test cricket and we will be able to assess the shortcomings if any and try to plug those,” informed Kumble.
