We won on competitive wickets: Kohli

Kohli and the team management copped a lot of flak during the South Africa series at home where some of the pitches were square turners. However, the wins against England at Visakhapatnam in the second Test and here in the third match came on tracks where there weren’t much help for the spinners. “It’s exactly been 12 months that I was asked a question about we playing on unfair pitches and the question has turned itself. So we don’t need to say much about the pitches,” said Kohli, making it clear that he has not forgotten what all was said back then. 

“As I said, we are focussed on good cricket and we are a team that looks to play good cricket and win sessions. It was a perfectly good wicket for cricket. Even for pace bowlers as well as our guys really rushed in and put in an effort and got results. It was a wicket if you persisted long enough you will get results that you want. 

“Even in Kolkata, we showed that we don’t want dry square turners, we have enough skill to play good cricket and win against any team in the world. That’s the belief we have created in the change room. That can only happen when you are not bothered what’s happening outside that door and focus on your own skills,” the captain said with a lot of conviction. There was a point in time when Indian teams would allow the opposition tail to wag but the skipper is happy that now they have turned the tables on the opposition with the kind of effort they are putting in. 

“As a side, when you get five or six wickets, you think that the game is going to get over early and the batsmen go into that zone. Suddenly then you have to field for 6070 more overs and you are confused on whether to focus on batting or the fielding. We have experienced that in the past where other teams have done that with us and we haven’t found a way to stop it. “It’s great to see our guys stepping up, actually making it count. Every game, on an average we are scoring 80-85 runs (lower down the order). This match we have scored 200 plus, so amazing to see guys working hard on their batting, understanding that those 70-80 runs put a dent on opposition’s mindset. And when they come out to play, they know that they gave away 6070 runs too many,” said Kohli. 

He feels that someone like Ravichandra Ashwin takes confidence into his bowling from his batting. “When they come out with that kind of confidence, with the ball also it helps them. You see Ashwin, he is the no 1 all-rounder in world. He scores runs and comes out with the ball and is more confident. Credit to them for working hard in executing the plans,” he added.