Virat Kohli calls for consistency from players

Virat Kohli, captain of the Indian Test team has called on his players to play good and sustained cricket for a longer period of time. The 27-year old Kohli is well on his way to becoming India’s most successful Test captain should the Indians claim a win at Port of Spain, Trinidad. If India wins, they will solidify their place atop the ICC Test rankings, something they have not done since MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten guided the team to the same.

Speaking of the previous results, Kohli said that winning was indeed a nice incentive to continue playing good cricket. Of the 13 matches as skipper Kohli has claimed a win in 7. “It’s a nice incentive but it doesn’t really change anything for the team. Our goal has been to play good cricket and we’ve done that in the past year or so. And we want to continue with the same,” Kohli said on Wednesday.

“Even last year, when we beat South Africa, because of some other team losing, we became number one for a brief period. To really become the best team in the world you need to play consistent cricket over a span of 3-4 years. This is pretty immediate and short-term incentive.

Kohli sent out a message to his player stating that they must play consistent cricket. “You have to play sustained cricket for a good period of time to be the best team in the world. We have played good cricket that s why we have climbed up the rankings, but if you see we have played a lesser number of games than the other teams. It’s only after we play a good number of games that we can be judged. We’ve played good cricket but I think only at the end of the season, we can look back how we have played and then figure out where do we stand,” he said.

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“If we’re playing five batsmen and if we are looking to bat someone at five, then the batting order we played in the last game works. When we play six batsmen and four bowlers, in home conditions may be, then the combination might be different. But we are open to both,” he said.

“And personally, I don t have to prepare differently. For me, the mindset matters before I go in to bat. It can be any position but if you are mentally fit you will be able to execute.”

“If the wickets are drastically changing from one venue to the other, you will see a change here and there, especially with one bowler playing in front of the other. As far as the pool goes, we have a very good squad here. The stand-by players we have back home have the skill set as well. Everyone has been briefed about the roles they have to play. We have players who are ready accordingly,” Kohli said.

“One or two spots obviously will be available. But we can t make too many changes in one series. And with a long season coming up, we are playing games at home too. So we want players to know that they are in the starting eleven so that they can prepare accordingly. We have done that pretty well in the last year and a half,” said Kohli further.

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Speaking about the pitch conditions, Kohli said, “I had a look at the pitch yesterday. There were a few damp spots. The covers came on very quickly today so I don t know how much that has dried up. We would name a few more than the eleven tonight before taking a call on what would be the best combination in the morning.”

“Apart from the damp spots, the surface looked pretty dry, and should have turn and bounce. That s the feeling I got. If we have rain on and off then the seamers will get much more assistance. Even in the side nets today, the seamers were getting a lot of assistance. We have enough players to make a change in the squad at the last minute,” Kohli signed off.

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