Debasis Sen, Johannesburg: Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli is in a lot of pressure as captain after India has started poorly in the South Africa and ahead of the third and final Test at the Wanderers Kohli has said that he is learning everyday in the field to improve as a captain as well as a player.
“Well every game is a learning experience whether you win or lose. The only thing that you learn is, you can go out and try to do things that have happened in the past, try and not make those errors and that’s probably the only thing that you take forward as a captain and as an individual also. That’s how you progress and determined at this level. So, it’s nothing different. I am learning everyday, it’s not like you stop learning at any stage; when you win you learn as well. So, we are trying to rectify those mistakes and keep the positives in our head at the same time. ” said Kohli on the eve of the third Test.
“As a captain as well, you want to proudly do better in situations when the game has gone away from you at times. So, I have thought about those things as well – how you can still keep the pressure on and not let the game slip away in very quick time. I always keep thinking about my game, how I can learn as a captain and get better in every aspect of what I do. I never stop learning.”
On being asked about the pitch conditions, the India skipper said that the 22-yards looks like a typical Wanderers pitch which will have a lot of pace and bounce and the team management might go for all-pace attack.
“Well it’s definitely very different from the last game. I would say similar to Cape Town but a bit more grass on it which we expected. Yeah, it’s going to a very lively wicket throughout the course of the Test match. I think it’s going to be a typical Wanderers wicket where there’s good grass, the surface is going to be hard and good bounce also; pretty much like what was expected.”
“We would definitely look at that option (all-seam attack). I am sure both the teams would be thinking about those options, because, as I said, we have taken 40 wickets so far and we need to figure out what’s the best way to pick up 20 wickets again in this Test match. We are going to have discussion on that as well, and the other combinations of the whole team as well. We will have a clear picture at the end of this afternoon.” added Kohli.
He also termed this phase as a learning phase and he is taking a lot of important lessons from it while moving forward.
“As I said, everyday is a learning phase for me. If I didn’t learn from the early days of my career, I wouldn’t be here. So it’s always an ongoing process of learning everyday, learning from your mistakes, correcting those mistakes and going forward. Even focusing on the positives, you need to be able to still work on your positives to be able to be a consistent international player over a period of time. I have never stopped learning, I will never stop learning.”
“Look responsibility can become less or more according to the phases, it’s all about hanging in there and accepting all the phases that are coming your way. Sometimes the team is playing so beautifully, you don’t need to do anything you feel so relaxed. So even this is a part of it. I have to take it in my stride and go forward. And not sit here and say ‘this is a lot of burden’ That’s not the right attitude. I’m willing to go through any kind of phase, I have gone through bad phases in my career. Ups and downs are a part of a sportsman’s career and I understand that. As I said you learn everyday and keep moving forward.” said Kohli.
The top order of the visitors were under scanner from day 1 as they have failed miserably against the express pace attack of the Proteas. According to Kohli the team has worked very hard on this matter.
“Everyone has been spoken to individually; the discussions have happened as to what went wrong, what happened, why it happened and the guys have taken it well. And as I said, anytime you step on to the field, you have an opportunity to correct your mistakes, and that’s how you progress at the international level. I am sure everyone is looking forward to rectifying those mistakes and then if they are in the same positions, consolidating those positions,” the captain added.