The Australian head coach, Justin Langer expressed that they have set plans to tackle the likes of the Indian talisman Virat Kohli when the two teams will be locking horns with each other in the opening day-night Test in Adelaide from Thursday. The four-match series opener at Adelaide Oval will be the last game for the Indian skipper Down Under this summer as he will return home after the game to attend the birth of his first child. Langer, however, is determined to put some brakes on Kohli’s run spree in Australia. 

During the virtual media interaction, Langer said, “He is a great player and an equally great leader. So, we will have our plans in place. The next trick is to execute them, hopefully, keep him out of the game with his runs. At the end of the day, that’s where he is going to have the biggest impact. We’ve seen a lot of him now, and he has seen a lot of us too.”

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Langer also clarified that his team will focus more on the skill part and look for ways to dismiss Kohli instead of needlessly engaging with him. Australia may have played more pink-ball games as compared to India but according to Langer, his team would have no advantage heading into the opening pink ball match.

Elaborating the same, Justin Langer said, “I have always said that the best players and best teams adapt regardless of the big game or the colour of the ball. India have just come off a day-night practice game, we have done a bit of practice under lights. We haven’t played for 12 months or so, so when it comes to the crunch, regardless of the ball, regardless of whether it is a day-night or a day Test match it is game on.”

The hosts lost the last series down under to India in 2018-19 but Langer said revenge is not on the minds of his players. He also gave some credit to the Indian Premier League (IPL) for promoting a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship among the players.

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Talking about the same, Langer said, “I also love the way the game is played. We will play tough cricket but in the spirit, it’s meant to be played. That’s one of the benefits of the IPL, I think. The guys get to know each other. There’s a good relationship… All things said, I can’t wait… Bring it on, Thursday.”