02 August,2015 07:45 AM IST | | PTI
India's Test captain Virat Kohli rules out curbing natural aggression in order to hit the high notes on forthcoming Sri Lanka tour, which starts this month
Virat Kohli
Chennai: His batting form has not been the best of late but an unfazed Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday said he does not need to put in any extra effort on that front as he has always played with responsibility for the team.
Virat Kohli Pic/Getty Images
Kohli, who played for India 'A' in the just-concluded second unofficial four-day Test against Australia 'A', produced knocks of 16 and 45 in the match which the visitors won by 10 wickets on Saturday.
India have not played much of Test cricket this year and Kohli's form has been rather indifferent in the ODI arena where he hasn't scored a hundred since February. Asked if he needs to curb his aggressive approach to get back into the groove ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka starting this month, the batsman responded with a firm no.
No need to change
"As a batsman I have always been responsible with the way I play my cricket and it comes from wanting to win the game for the team everytime I play. So I don't think I need to change too much in that aspect. I think that is one of the major reasons that the Board thought that I could be the man to take up responsibility for the team," Kohli told bcci.tv.
"It all boils down to how you play your cricket eventually and that's the way I have always played my cricket, be it on the field, be it the way I bat, I always give my 100 per cent. Putting in that extra effort in batting I don't think is required because I have always played in a responsible way for the team. And I will continue to that till the time I play for my country," he asserted. Talking about the tour of Sri Lanka, which comprises three Tests, Kohli said he is looking forward to leading India for the first time in a full-fledged series. "It's basically my first full assignment as Test captain. In Bangladesh, it wasn't a full-fledged series. So it will be a new challenge for me and the whole team because we have such a young squad and so many new players looking to build their careers," he said. "It is an exciting challenge to start together as a new unit. It is exciting for me and as a team.
'Everyone's happy'
Everyone is very happy and putting in all the effort required to do well in Test cricket. I am certain if we prepare well and have the right kind of vision, we will do really well in Sri Lanka," he added. "I am confident about the whole team and also hope that I am able to do the job given by BCCI," he added.
India 'A', for which Kohli turned up here, is currently being coached by former skipper Rahul Dravid. Kohli said playing under his tutelage has been helpful. "It's always nice to be around great players like Rahul Dravid, because just their presence is so calming and so reassuring and even if you don't want to speak about the game, just having them around makes you feel good about your own cricket because just looking at them you can learn so much more," Kohli said. "I think being around him is always a good feeling. I have played lot of games with him as well. He is a very nice and genuine person. It is always nice to talk to him about the game and otherwise as well," he added.
