India captain Virat Kohli said Team India will look to cut out the outside noise and do whatever that is required to comeback from the 10-wicket loss against New Zealand in Wellington.
Virat Kohli said there are a lot of people who want to get into their head knowing they are a side ‘who can beat anyone anywhere’ by making ‘too much out of’ the hammering at the Basin Reserve.
The India skipper, who struggled to get going with the bat, said India will not be bothered if they lose the 2nd Test, starting Saturday in Christchurch but they will ‘not take a backward step’.
Virat Kohli’s comments come after India were handed a 10-wicket thrashing by New Zealand in the 1st of the 2-match series. The World No. 1 Test side avoided a follow-on but managed to set only a target of 9 runs which New Zealand gunned down on the morning of the 4th Day in Wellington.
India vs New Zealand, 1st Test: Highlights | Report
“1st things 1st, block all the noise from the outside. I think people want us to think that this is a massive loss and you try and make too much out of it so that we don’t quite go in with a clear mindset. People will try and get into your head, understanding you’re a top-quality side and you can beat any side anywhere,” Virat Kohli told the press on Monday.
“Keeping us mentally in a bad space would help but we have never been a side which pays attention to outside noise. We will continue to do that. We have to accept and understand that playing sport at the international level, wins and losses are part of it. But it’s what we learn out of it and the way we play. We have taken a lot of pride in that.
“There is no doubt we will try and win the next Test, we are not going to play in any other fashion and whatever it requires as a batting unit, bowling and fielding unit, we are going to come out and do that.
“We are not bothered about another loss, but we are not going to take a backward step.”
Among the many reasons that led to India’s loss, which is also a major concern is Virat Kohli’s own form with the bat.
It’s been 20 international innings since Virat Kohli got a hundred. He has managed just 201 runs with 1 fifty in 9 innings in the ongoing New Zealand tour.
Kohli was out for 19 and 2 in the two innings of the Wellington Test and failed to step up when the team needed him the most in the 2nd innings after India had conceded 183-run 1st innings lead.
I don’t think like people on the outside: Virat Kohli on batting form
However, Virat Kohli said he is not thinking too much about his form and that he will be able to overcome the lean patch and ‘contribute to the team in a winning cause’.
“I am absolutely fine, I am batting really well. I feel that sometimes that scores don’t reflect the way you are batting. That’s what happens sometimes when you don’t execute really well. Look when you play so much cricket and play for so long, you will obviously have 3-4 innings which don’t go your way. If you try and make too much out of it, it will keep piling on. I think it’s about staying in a good space,” Kohli said.
“I know the chat on the outside changes with one inning, but I don’t think like that. If I thought about people on the outside, I would be outside right now. I think it’s all about doing the basics right and putting the hard work in the practice.
“You can’t really think walking out that ‘I have to do it all the time’. You want to do it but if it doesn’t come off, you don’t have to beat yourself up too much. You take pride in performing and I have always done that. I am looking forward to contributing to a win in the next Test.
“It doesn’t matter what I do. It’s not about my performance on the tour. If the team wins, even a 40 is good. If the team loses, even a 100 is irrelevant. I am going to stay in that mindset.”
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