Virat Kohli put up a brave front in his first interaction as stand-in Test captain, saying the Indian team needs to adopt an aggressive mindset if they are to do well in Australia. The Brisbane Test will be Kohli’s first as captain, leading India in in place of the injured MS Dhoni, but team director Ravi Shastri expected Kohli to appear to be a far more experienced captain.
The Indian team will leave for Australia early on Saturday for a four-Test series, to be followed by a tri-series also involving England. That will be followed by the World Cup, to be played in Australia and New Zealand in February-March next year. Despite India’s run of poor results overseas over the last three years, Kohli said the mood in the camp was upbeat.
“Right now the mood in the team is very positive, we are focusing on being aggressive and having that mindset throughout as a habit rather than fading out in six months’ time,” Kohli said.
Kohli admitted that the experience of having toured Australia previously will help him. India’s 2011-12 tour of Australia was a 4-0 disaster, but the improvement in Kohli’s Test batting was one of the few bright spots to emerge. He built up his form over the Tests, and carried it over to the tri-series that followed.
“Last tour to Australia was a strong change,” Kohli said. “I never experienced the aggression and that kind of an atmosphere. I will try to impart that experience to other players of what to expect and what sort of mindset to go with. Once we go with a negative mindset that will keep catching up. You have to be positive every single day. That is something we will focus on going in this tour.
“The way I batted in South Africa Tests, personally they were quite memorable for me. I am hopeful that experience will count. It helps mentally as well because you have performed well in difficult conditions.”
With Dhoni ruled out of the opening Test, Kohli will be in charge of the team for the first three weeks, including the preparations. Shastri expected Kohli to slip into the leadership role with ease.
“We have no choice. MS has hardly missed a match in the last so many years. He has played every format for the last so many years, so it’s only fair that he gives himself time to be fully fit and come back,” Shastri said.
“Meanwhile, you have to go with what you have. Virat’s leading the side and it might be his first Test match as captain but I can assure you, you will see a guy who you feel has led in 20 to 25 Test matches.”
With India stationed in Australia for almost three months before the World Cup, Kohli hoped the team will make the most of the experience, though he insisted the Tests are the priority as of now.
“It will definitely help us during the World Cup. However, right now our focus is only on the Test series. We will think about the World Cup at the time of the tri-series,” Kohli said. “But obviously playing in a place where the World Cup is going to be held in a few months’ time will definitely be helpful. We can plan for the World Cup better and this is like a blessing that we will get a chance to prepare better for it. We will not be surprised when we go to the World Cup as to the kind of wickets we will get. It is a very good thing for us.”
The flip-side of playing a high-pressure and long series just ahead of the World Cup is India are in danger of burning out. Shastri, who featured in a similarly prolonged tour of Australia in 1991-92, stressed on the need to take time off the game for every player to keep fresh for the World Cup.
“When you have a long tour, you have the ability to switch off. Don’t be thinking overtime, focus on what you have to do but when you are not playing, switch off. You have got to have a way of relaxing, you have got to have hobbies,” Shastri said.
“A round of golf – and Australia is a great country, there are enough places to go to. Get your mind off the cricket, which is very important when you are not playing so that you are fresh and hungry by the time World Cup starts. That’s the key. It’s not in what form you are. It’s the mental state, how fresh and how hungry are you when you get out there. You will be hungry but your mental state has to be extremely fresh.”