Indian Captain Virat Kohli and Team India is on a wee. Winning the first two Tests against Sri Lanka, India is looking for clinching the three away Test series and making another record in the history of cricket. If India manages to win the third and the final Test India will be winning three Tests in a series away from home since 1968.
Though the captain is not looking too far and hoping to take on what the hour needs. Not to mention Indian Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav has been an asset for the team. His abilities and skills to pounce upon the batsman when needed have been always beneficial for men in blue. Kohli says Kuldeep’s confidence is his main charm and also he is very much pleased with the team’s bench abilities.
As per the quotes in Wisden India, Let’s see some of the excerpts from his pre-match conference:
On The WhiteWash 3-0:
No. For us, it’s about playing another Test match and trying to win another Test. We have already won the series. But as I said it doesn’t mean that we can be complacent or afford to be complacent. For us, it is another Test that we are going to try and win. You cannot look at these things and go into a game that’s certainly not what we think. I know none of the other team members are also thinking about this because I personally feel that it’s just a distraction that causes people to be over excited and that causes people to look too far ahead of what might be the outcome of this particular game. I think we need to stay in the present and treat every session with respect to win a Test, and that’s exactly what we want to follow.
On Rain That Intervened The Training Session:
Yeah, you can say that. We are certainly better placed to be able to afford a couple of off days. Yesterday we took an off voluntarily and today it just happened to rain but the day before that we had a good practice. Also what you need to understand in places like Sri Lanka it is very hot and humid. People sometimes end up doing too much at practice and then maybe you don’t recover for a game.
On Jadeja’s Ban:
It might be a very small thing but if the intent is to do something bad then obviously that is something that counts against the player. I think players have to be much more aware going ahead and just hoping that the guidelines are very similar from now on. Because it shouldn’t vary according to how the situation is looked at. So if it is consistent then I think it is going to be good going ahead because players will obviously be more aware of how they need to conduct themselves on the field and it will only help the game get better.
On The Young Chinaman:
A guy like Kuldeep, when you hand him the ball, he is willing to bowl in any situation, willing to bowl with attacking fields, willing to throw the ball up towards the batsmen. He believes in his own ability and believes in deceiving the batsmen with the skill that he has. I think that’s his biggest quality. He has proven himself in Dharamsala which was not such a spin friendly wicket and it was quite flat in the first 2-3 days of the Test match. He turned the game around for us so he has that ability, which is very rare to find. A chinaman bowler is always something which is an x-factor in a team. I would say his confidence is his USP. He has a great chance of playing tomorrow and I wish him all the best.
On The Difference Between Indian And Sri Lankan Players Injuries, How They Are Motivated?
I think that is also a skill. Those players who don’t get a chance, managing them is also a skill. It is not easy because everyone wants to play and luckily we have such players who are just waiting for opportunities. We don’t have players who are happy to sit out. So I think that attitude helps them stay interested in working hard and they know that there will be a phase where those who are currently playing might not be in the best form so then they will get their chance.
India will play the final test tomorrow.
