Virat Kohli looking forward to playing county cricket before next England tour

Having already secured the series and crushed England with the ignominy of an innings defeat in the last Test, the two teams now move to Chennai for the fifth and final match of the series. Virat Kohli spoke to the media ahead of the Test which, weather permitting, is due to start tomorrow. Here are the excerpts: 

 

On football being an important part of the team culture

Football has been part of the warm-up regimen even before I joined the team. We stopped it for a while recently because of a few injuries because of it: a few players’ ankles got twisted. We decided we won’t play a proper high-intensity football game, but play a modified version: foot-volley, which is kind of like playing volleyball with a football. It is fun playing it. All cricketers generally prefer racquet sports because it gives you ball sense: we like playing baddy (badminton) and tennis. When you start walking and running as a kid, as soon as a ball comes in front of you, your natural instinct is to kick it. I don't know the reason, but everyone loves football. If you play the full game, it is good for endurance, but it is high-risk as well. We don’t have as much idea about football as other teams, who control and play.

On a potential 4-0 scoreline
We just take it one step at a time. It is not about the scoreline- every game is separate from the other one. The intensity and motivation to win a Test match and a series is the same. We are not looking at a scoreline as such - we’ll continue what we are doing. It is difficult to win a Test, and to put a number to it would be unfair to the players and the series as well. For us, it is all about going through the process and doing what we have been doing and focussing on each situation and session, and build the blocks. 

On the contributions of the bowlers with the bat
Their contributions with the bat have been outstanding. It hasn’t taken much at all from me to motivate them. Ashwin has set a benchmark for the other spinners to do well. Jadeja has come of age with the bat at Mohali. He went out with a lot of confidence and scored those 90 runs for us, Jayant as well. He gets inspired when he sees Ashwin, and is a keen learner: improves his cricket every time and works a lot on his batting.

All the fast bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, even Umesh Yadav have become so much better with the bat, they understand the importance of those runs. Amit Mishra, when he has played, has done well with the bat. As a captain, it gives you more freedom to play five batsmen where your bowlers contribute 120-130 runs - which is as good as playing another batsman. I give them credit for working hard on their batting.

 

On the game plan with three spinners

Ashwin and Jadeja are the frontrunners for creating a pressure and plugging the runs, every time we require a wicket. Jayant has come in and had his plans. He knows his bowling, and has a lot of control as well. He rushes the batsman (rushed Stokes and Root), he doesn’t give the batsman much time to react and has those revs in his delivery. He has strength in his shoulder to pitch the ball in the right areas and not give too much. I think Graeme Swann was very similar, the pace control was magnificent without giving the ball much air. That’s why he was so successful -that’s what I see in Jayant as well.  He has great control over his arm speed and the control he has.

Whenever you require two-three wickets, Jayant is always there on the spot, making things happen and creating doubt. He has been a great addition to the team. 

 

On the team’s Test form in the recent past
We know we have to play a lot of cricket, it is not just about this one period. It looks really good because we have just come out of transition, and immediately we started winning games. But, I won’t take it as a thing for overconfidence because it is an ongoing process that needs to be maintained for the next 7-8 years for us to become a top quality side and leave a mark on world cricket: maybe be known as the best team assembled on the field. We want to do it across formats and make that mark for Indian cricket on the world stage. It’ll require a lot of hard work with fitness, as well as persistence. We don’t feel invincible, to be honest. We respect every opposition.

Initial stages were difficult because you were trying to assemble a side which should be strong enough to beat the world. I think the guys have become really professional with the way they prepare and work on their fitness. This is a bunch that is learning with experience. It makes my job very easy because I don't need to say anything to anyone. I think the guys have bought into this culture very well.

On playing county in England before the 2018 season
If I have a chance, I would love to do that in the one month and a half before the series, just to get used to the conditions and pitches during that phase of the year. I think those things matter because preparation time is very crucial for any side. If I have the opportunity to go there a few days before the start of the series, I would. I have been thinking about it, trying to work out how I can do it. If I have time, I’ll most definitely do it. 

On not hitting sixes in Tests
It has been a conscious effort. Many times I have felt I can go after the spinners, but I understand I need to stay for the extra hour or two for the game. I don't necessarily feel the need to hit sixes. There is the excitement in a batsman after crossing 150, you feel like expressing yourself, but then you realise you can play 3-4 overs without hitting a boundary. I can rotate the strike and do that for the team. I don't need to take that risk and cost the team momentum - It is about finding ways to still be positive and understanding what the team needs. You have to adjust what the team wants and give the team some solidarity in the middle. You can’t just play your own game.

On Joe Root as a potential captain

Joe is an outstanding player, been really fond of his game, he is very positive. He always takes up any situation as an opportunity, and it is pretty evident by the way he plays.  I don't know if captaincy will go to him: it is not just about handling ten more guys, it comes with the whole package of interacting with the media, the people start expecting different things from you. It is like having the onus of the whole country as far as the sport is concerned. 

Joe is the kind of the guy with the temperament to do it but he can only tell when he actually gets to the scheme of things and reacts on the way he conducts himself - I think he is good enough to handle that job.