Xtra Time Web Desk: India captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday declared himself a “representation of new India”, forever ready to take up challenges with optimism. Responding to former Australian captain Greg Chappell’s views that he has the mindset of an Australian, Kohli said, “I would like to say that I have always been myself,” the skipper said during a virtual media conference ahead of the opening Test against Australia here starting Thursday.
“The way my personality and character is, I am the representation of new India. For me, that’s how I look at it,” he asserted.
“In my mind, it’s not (about) being compared to the Australian mindset as such. It’s how we have started to stand up as the Indian cricket team and my personality has been like this from day one” he added.
“The new India takes up challenges and is filled with optimism and positivity. We make sure that we are ready for any challenges that come our way.”
The Indian captain will returning back home to India after the completion of the first test to be by the side of his wife Anushka, who is expecting a child. The test team will be led by his deputy Ajinkya Rahane.
Kohli backed his deputy Ajinkya Rahane to “do a tremendous job” in leading the side once he goes on paternity leave after the first Test against Australia and described their relationship as the one built on “trust and mutual respect”.
“Well, firstly we had a lot of mutual understanding and respect over the years, we have had some great partnerships batting together which is based on trust and understanding on what needs to be done for the team,” Kohli said when asked how he sees Rahane faring in his absence.
“Jinks has done a tremendous job in the two practice games, the tour games that have happened and he seems to be very composed and he knows the strengths of our team and how we need to go about things,” he said.
Kohli made it clear that Rahane will certainly follow the template set by him and there is no ambiguity as far as both of them are concerned.
“…we already know the template that we play with and how we want to go about things, so we are absolutely on the same page and I am sure he will do a tremendous job in my absence as well,” the skipper seemed very confident.
“…the focus remains till the time I am here is to be able to provide, you know, captaincy and leadership and performances as a player to the best of my abilities and from then on, I am pretty confident that Jinks will do a tremendous job.”
Meanwhile , India has named their playing XI for the first test match. Prithvi Shaw has been preferred over Shubman Gill while Wriddhiman Saha will be the donning the keeping gloves. Rishabh Pant will have to wait for his opportunity.
Indian team: Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav.