Don’t play for tons and that’s why I cross it more: Kohli
Internet Desk: India skipper Virat Kohli has hinted that Ajinkya Rahane will open the innings with Rohit Sharma in place of star opener Shikhar Dhawan who is not with the team to be with his wife as she is feeling unwell. According to Virat, Rahane knows everything about the plans and the team is depending on him heavily at the top of the batting order.
“It’s up to the player to take up a versatile position what the team requires him to do. I am not saying it’s easy. See Ajinkya Rahane plays in middle order in ODIs and Tests and then he has opened a lot in the ODIs are well. He also felt that he found it difficult to switch. Now we are backing Rahane at the top of the order so he knows his plans are clear. Once you get that balance with given that player more chances then he gets more confident of his role in the team,” he said.
“Till then there is Manish and Kedar so there will always be competition. KL is a outstanding talent and proved himself in all formats. He needs to be back because we believe he has the ability, once he gets his role done, then he will start winning you games and we are very sure of than.”
Kohli further said that his team always plays every series with same intensity and they don’t think much about who their opponent is. India recently white-washed Sri Lanka 5-0 in an away series.
“I don’t think we need to see any series differently. As I mentioned in Sri Lanka as well, your preparations should matter more than who you are playing against. You will asses the strength and weaknesses of the teams but you cannot increase or decrease you intensity according to who you are playing against. That’s not being fair to the sport and that’s something we as a team do not believe is. So, we like prepare the same way and play with same intensity regardless of who we are playing,” he said.
On being asked about his team’s balance, Kohli said,”If you look to bat in the same position in all formats, then it can get very difficult for the team to find the right balance including that player. I think players need to adapt to what the team requirement is more often. For example, I have opened in T20 cricket and I would do that anyday if there is a guy who is in the middle order (who is going to strengthen the middle order). I should be flexible enough to do that. I have batted at four and top of the order as well,” he said.
Kohli didn’t look much concerned with the absence of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. According to him most cricketing sides in the world are trying to have two all-rounders in the world who are brilliant fielders too. Kohli further said that three bowlers with two all-rounders is the new strategy in cricket.
“A lot of teams are heading that way. You need depth in batting and you need depth in bowling as well. Those two all-rounders provide that kind of balance. Someone like Hardik Pandya or Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja. I think we need to identify two of those guys for your side to have more strength in both the departments. That is something that all of the sides are going to move towards this because of the strength it gives in both departments alongwith being a top fielder as well. It’s very very important. You need a proper all-rounder and not just a bowling and a batting all-rounder. It’s something we have focused and we will look to continue as well,” he said.
KL Rahul might have had his share of struggles in the limited overs format off late but skipper Virat Kohli is confident that the talented Karnataka right-hander will come good at his new No 4 slot.
Rahul had scores of 4, 17 and 7 in the three ODIs in Sri Lanka and was dropped from the fifth rubber. Asked about Rahul’s form, Kohli said:”KL (Rahul) is an outstanding talent. He is proved himself in all formats. And he is someone who needs to be backed. Because we believe that he has the ability. Once he gets his role done, he will start winning us games. We are very sure of that.”
Kohli also feels that apart from Rahul, who is batting at an unfamiliar No 4 position, each and every player in the team needs to be flexible.
“I think, if you look to bat in the position that you bat in one format, in all the formats, then it can get very difficult for the team to find the right kind of balance including that player. So I think players need to adapt to what the team requirement is more often.
“For example, I have opened in the T20 cricket as well. So I should be flexible enough to do that. I think it’s up to the player to get versatile in a manner that he can take up different positions what the team requires him to do,” he said.
Kohli again said that he don’t play for personal achievements and he only tries to help his side to win the game. Kohli already has 30 ODI centuries in just 186 matches.
“I don’t play for the three-figure mark that’s why I end up crossing it more times because I am not thinking about it. I don’t put myself under pressure in terms of achieving a landmark. For me what’s most important is to win the game for the team. Even if I am 98 not out I don’t mind, even if I am 99 not out I don’t mind as long as we win the game. In that process things end up happening because you want to stay till the end and if there is enough on the board you end up achieving those landmarks,” he said.