XtraTime Web Desk: Ahead of leaving for the tour of Australia, India skipper Virat Kohli has made it clear that his side wouldn’t go in the field to heat up the atmosphere with talking, but if the Aussies try to get aggressive in their approach, the Men in Blue knows how to “give it back” to them.
India’s tour of Down Under is set to begin from November 21 with a three-match T20I series, later they will play a Test and ODI series as well.
“When it comes to getting engaged in an argument on the field, I have been completely okay playing without an altercation. I have enough belief in my abilities. Those were very immature things I used to feed on when I was younger,” Kohli said at India’s pre-departure press conference in Mumbai, before adding, “Now being captain of the team, you do not have time to think of anything else apart from what the team needs.”
As per Kohli his side didn’t start sledging in the past but they fought back when other teams provoked them.
“We were always the ones giving it back. As long as it does not start, we will not go out looking for anything but we will reciprocate,” Virat Kohli added.
“I know from the management point of view, things are explained of what the team needs. As long as it does not start, we are okay with it. In our own minds, we have to be competitive and not let our focus drop.”
With two back-to-back overseas Test series defeat by South Africa and England earlier this year, this is Virat Kohli’s last chance to prove that his team is capable of defeating best teams in their own backyard. Speaking about his boys’ fitness, Virat Kohli said he was satisfied.
“I definitely believe our fitness levels are up: which is the most important thing in Australia because pitches can sometimes become very boring there,” said Kohli.
Virat Kohli also heaped praises on the Indian bowlers.
“We are always feeling good about the fact that we have a good bowling attack but our batsmen have to step up as well. That is something we spoke about after the England tour. Our focus will be more on how the batsmen bat together. Our bowlers are in the space and after a long time, we will we can pick 20 wickets in a game,” Virat Kohli concluded.