Rajkot: Indian Test captain Virat Kohli asserted here Tuesday that they are not losing sleep over the introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the five-Test series against England commencing here Wednesday.
“Well there is no rocket science in the DRS. As a cricketer you understand, you have a fair idea of where the ball has hit the pad, whether it has pitched in line or hit in line. Those are pretty basic things in cricket,” the captain told reporters here.
Kohli also did not read too much into the statements of England captain Alastair Cook and key fast bowling all-rounder Stuart Broad, both of whom stated that they were the ‘underdogs’ in the series.
“I think some teams might want to play it low at the start of the series and then surprise their opponents, but we are quite aware of those things. We have experienced those sorts of tactics in the past,” informed Kohli, who has hit two double tons this year.
“But at the same time we don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves. We understand what we need to do, so we are not going to get swayed away or carried away by the praise or adulation; at the same time, criticism as well,” he added.
The Delhi dasher also said that he and his mates are ready for the challenge that England are about to throw to them.
“This series will be a test of our character, of our skills. Regardless of the results, players of both sides will come out better cricketers after the end of the series. That is what we are looking forward to,” informed Kohli.
“The mindset is not (just) to compete anymore. We want to win series, win Test matches. For that, you have to be at your A game all the time and also keep on improving. That has been our mindset all through,” he asserted.
Press Trust of India