Virat Kohli expects Parthiv to grab opportunity with both hands

Indian Test captain Virat Kohli stated that comeback man Parthiv Patel was well aware of the fact that he was only a stop gap wicket keeper but expected him to grab his opportunity with both hands in order to grab his opportunity as the 2nd wicket keeper whenever India goes for an away tour.

Parthiv is all set to don the Indian whites after a gap of 8 years due to the injury suffered by regular wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha during the Vizag Test.

“We are pretty excited to have him back although we won’t have thought about (Wriddhiman) Saha getting injured at this stage. It’s part of the game. Parthiv understands the situation he is in. I am pretty glad he respects that and he’s still looking forward to the opportunity and try to make a mark. He knows when we plan to take two wicketkeepers away, this is the opportunity.”

“Luckily Parthiv’s attitude has been great. I don’t see any nerves. He’s played enough cricket to understand this kind of position and situation. He’s pretty excited to be back and make a mark. He’s been performing consistently well in first-class cricket for the last few years. He’s a guy who has experience at the Test level,” the skipper said backing the choice of selectors.

Kohli has always preferred fielding the first XI according to the surfaces, especially after the debacle in the Galle Test where India failed to chase down 176 in their 2nd innings to win the Test.

“This is something that we made pretty clear when we lost the game in Galle and after that we had a pretty clear chat that we are going to play people that we think are suitable for different venues. The team bought into it.

“Even with the batting order changes, we have made changes, I have gone up and down the order as well and other batsmen are keen to do it as well. I think it sends the message across that the eventual motive is for the team to win.”

Speaking about Moeen Ali who was a tormentor for the Men in Blue during their tour to England in 2014, Kohli said, “Again, you are talking about two phases that are very different for a cricketer’s mindset. To me, back in 2014, every bowler looked difficult because I wasn’t in a good mindset. But when you are playing well, when you are in a good zone, you feel that you have an upper hand against any bowler that you play and that’s something that you need to carry on to the field as well.

“Not taking anything away from Moeen, I think he is a pretty terrific bowler. He makes an impact in England as well, so he understands which lines and lengths to bowl, what speed to bowl at.”

According to Kohli winning is his job as he is being entrusted to serve the nation being a professional cricketer.

“It is a challenge, definitely. It’s a challenge to repeat the same things the team has been doing for a while but I think that is what professional cricketers are picked to do and that’s something that we take as a responsibility but not as a burden.

“We need to make sure we put all things in place for us to give ourselves the best chance of going out there and winning a Test match. That’s all we have done in the past couple of years and the results have been nice. The challenge is a tough one and all of them have lived up to it so far and it is really good to see as a captain,” the flamboyant skipper concluded.