Virat Kohli bullish about his team’s chances against an inexperienced Sri Lanka

Virat Kohli’s unit has touched down in Sri Lanka for a full-fledged tour comprising of 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and a lone T20. In the first press conference of the tour, Kohli focused on believing in your own abilities and the mental aspect of the game. Sri Lanka are not the same side they used to be once, recently losing an ODI series at home to Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka lack in experience

India last toured the Island in 2015 when Ravi Shastri was the team director. After shockingly losing the first Test from being in a winning position, India came back well in the final two Tests to win the series 2-1. It was a farewell series to one of the greatest cricketer to have played for Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara. Ravi Ashwin had a tight lid on the veteran, dismissing him four times out of four before he bowed down from international cricket after the second Test. Kohli recognised the significance of putting the hard yards in as a cricketer.

“This game rewards people who are brave and who are willing to do the hard yards and that is something that we as a team and us have worked towards. Transition initially can take a few months, but after that it is all about mentally how much you believe you are there is what counts,” Kohli said while addressing the media in Sri Lanka.

Apart from Sangakkara, Sri Lanka also had the availability of Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath and Dhammika Prasad. Sri Lanka have moved on from Prasad but Mathews and Herath have been top players for them especially in Tests. Kohli underlined that if an inexperienced player has belief, he is bound to do better than an experienced campaigner.

“When we last played Sri Lanka, the difference in test experience was huge as (Kumar) Sangakkara was still playing and Angelo (Mathews) was also in the side, Rangana Herath was also there and Dhammika Prasad. So the experience was not even close when you see the number of Test matches. What we told our group was, what matters is, how much you believe more than the opposition.  You might have played  a hundred games, but someone who has played 10 games has more belief is going to do better on the field,” Kohli added.

The Test matches will commence first and India has had a great time playing the long format. They beat West Indies at home last year followed by home series triumphs against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia. All in all, they have won 12 Tests out of the last 16 losing just one game against Australia at Pune earlier in the year.

Shastri wants to play fearless cricket

This series will be the first assignment for Ravi Shastri and his support staff. Shastri also addressed the media, recognising the need to play fearless cricket where winning is the most significant thing.

“My role in this profession is to get the guys in a frame of mind to get out there and express themselves and play a brand of cricket that is fearless, where you play to win at all cost. And there is no compromise on that. If you can get them in that frame of mind, that’s your job. They know their job, they are professional cricketers, they know once they step across the line they take over and that is it should be. Keep is simple but there is a lot of work out in before that in the preparation,” Shastri said.

India will play the first Test at Galle which kicks off on July 26.