After the top-order batting disaster in the early stage of the fourth innings of the fifth and final Test at The Oval, Indian opener KL Rahul and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant provided some desperate fights against the hosts England but failed to save the Test match and also lost the series by the 4-1 margin. However, Indian skipper Virat Kohli still has a lot of faith in his team.
However, ahead of the final Test, some of the media reports have suggested that the Indian players being unhappy with a lot of chopping and changing in the team. When asked about the same, Kohli revealed that he and the team management has spoken to the players who had to left out and they have been reconfirmed that only the team management has completed faith in them, but the scenarios and situations that led to the changes.
Describing the same during the post-match press conference, Virat said, “We’ve had conversations around specific situations we were in and why they went away from us. A lot of time it’s been on missed opportunities. We have definitely spoken to individuals understand what they were thinking in certain situations. But of what happened on the field, why it took place and what was the thought process behind it, so that we can go totally into the root of the issue and try and correct it from there rather than just telling guys this was the cause and then you need to correct yourself.”
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When the subject of comparing the current Indian team with previous ones came again, Kohli said the differentiating factor is this team’s attitude of never giving up and continue fighting despite enduring unfavourable results. If most of the previous teams have put into the same situation, they would’ve given hope but he assured that under his captaincy that’s never going to happen.
Elaborating his point, the Indian skipper said, “Look we don’t think like people on the outside I have said before and again. And this kind of series shows you exactly the kind of character of individuals is and I see that as an opportunity and not adversity because if you keep winning all the time a lot of faults are swept under the carpet. And I don’t see any series like that, they haven’t been tough at all because of the kind of cricket we have played. I know people conveniently choose not to look at that but that’s not us.”
Having lost the Test series in South Africa 2-1 earlier this year and now the 4-1 loss in England, questions have been raised on India’s ability to play overseas and although the results don’t favor Kohli’s men so far, the skipper is not willing to accept the fact that this team isn’t capable of achieving the right result in such tours, they are just lacking in experience.
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Virat elaborated, “We do not look at this series as something that makes us think we can’t play in overseas conditions, of course, we can play, but can we capitalise on the important moments better than the opposition? At the moment, no, we haven’t done that, but in future, we want to do that, and that is the only way we win series and our aim is to win series, not to win the odd Test match and be happy about it.”
About the result of the series, Kohli acknowledging his sorrow as he said no one in the change room doubts about the ability they have because they played with the right attitude and they have the will to win every game as well.
Even Virat also demonstrated his appreciation of a duel between him and James Anderson that has lit up the summer. He said, “It’s been fun. It’s been very competitive but in the right way. A word here and there, but it’s been sarcastic.” Congratulating the pacer for becoming the most successful fast bowl in Test cricket, Kohli said, “As a cricketer, you want to be pushed, you want to be tested, and guys like him test you all the time. That’s why he stands at the top of the fast bowlers’ leaderboard. He has a keen eye for figuring out faults, and he can bowl accordingly. He deserves what he achieved today because he’s worked hard for it. He’s been relentless and patient over so many years.”
India’s third big test will come in Australia where they travel later this year after hosting West Indies at home in an all-format series.
