This is what Virat Kohli wants from his team in the next two test matches

Virat Kohli during India’s press conference ahead of the fourth test. Image Source: XtraTime

XtraTime Web Desk: India will face England in a do or die match in the fourth test which is set to start from tomorrow. The Men in Blue are trailing the series 1-2 and they must not lose the game in Southampton. Ahead of the game India skipper Virat Kohli said as per the current condition of the team they don’t need any change.




“Seeing the way things are right now we don’t feel we need to change anything,” said Kohli while talking to the media.

Kohli is hopeful that the players would count on their experience and would work more hard that they produced during the third test at Trent Bridge. “Maybe four years ago, we didn’t capitalise on the lead,” Kohli said while talking at the press-conference. Last time in 2014 despite of taking a lead of 1-0 the Men in Blue lost the next three games. Among them the third game was played here.




“Right now we are in a very exciting position. To have played like that when 2-0 down, everyone thought it is going to be clean sweep, we’re going to get rolled over,” he said. “We spoke about being ruthless, relentless and capitalising on those important moments, which we did in Nottingham. We’ve to do that two more times to achieve the goal we want to, and not be satisfied with one victory. If Nottingham was hard work, this is going to be harder because England would want to come back strong.”

Though as per Kohli it won’t be an all pace attack at the Ageas Bowl and the team management may go with two spinners as well.




“If the pitch is like it was in Johannesburg, we will have no doubts about playing an all-pace attack,” he said, referring to the third Test in January, which India won on an uneven pitch. “I don’t think this pitch is anywhere close to that. I doubt an all-pace attack is the right option. It doesn’t make much sense because the last time we played here, spinners came into play in the second innings.

“The surface is pretty hard and once it wears out, there can be big footmarks and the spinners can get a lot. That is how I see it right now.”




The good news is that ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has recovered from his back injury and skipper Kohli has confirmed that by himself.

“Everyone is fit to start tomorrow. Ashwin has recovered nicely. He had a good practice session yesterday and he is good to go.”




“It has not always been the case of changes. There have been injuries as well, which has not been taken into consideration. It has been a mix. Seeing things the way they are right now, we don’t see any need to change anything.”

Kohli also backed ace pacer Mohammed Shami’s comments that the pacers should break a test in some segments to be focused in the game.




“It is quite a smart thing on the bowlers’ part,” Kohli said. “The key to really slowing things down is having an attacking field but bowling in areas where you don’t let the batsmen score. It doesn’t mean putting all fielders in the boundary. It means still having wicket-taking options but bowlers having enough control to not give runs in that particular period. That is what the bowlers have been working on, and they have been outstanding… It is great the bowlers are recognising that; they’re willing to change.”