Virat Kohli, India’s newly appointed Test captain had a baptism by fire against Australia earlier this year. But against Bangladesh, Virat appears to be on a firmer footing. The new cricket season for India begins with the short tour of Bangladesh, as the only Test will be played between the two teams, starting on June 10, at the busy city of Mirpur.
Here’s what Virat said that he had learned about captaincy so far: “We have learnt a lot but I don’t think we have to keep playing with the mindset of ‘we have to keep learning all the time’. I think it’s time – we have played enough Tests so that we start executing our skills and getting results our way and have the vision and the focus to win Test matches, not just go out there with the mindset of learning with every game. Obviously, you learn about the game every day, you learn watching on TV as well.”
Team Director Ravi Shastri talked about his new role as a possible Head Coach of the Indian team. He said: “We have got three coaches, we don’t need another coach. I will double up as head coach if need be, so there is no issue whatsoever. When we come back from Bangladesh, I will sit with them (the BCCI) and decide. I don’t rule out anything. I might be there much longer than what you think.”
“We have been playing for long enough now. Unless we want to have a vision of winning Test matches, executing our skills against the best in the world, we are falling short of the goals that we want to achieve. We know what we want to achieve as a unit, it’s just the mental thing that has to be right. We have learnt in the past few Test matches and months but starting now, we want to start achieving the results that we really want, not go away from every Test match thinking about what we have learnt from it.”
Harbhajan Singh, India’s veteran off spinner, who is making a come back into the Indian team praised Virat. He said: “Virat is a match-winner, someone who is very competitive. No matter what the situation is, he always wants to win which is a great quality as a player. Having him as a captain helps the team a lot when he is looking for win.”
“Having a captain who has so much of energy, his energy level rubs on to the others which is a very positive sign. The way the Indian team played in Australia was brilliant. Though we didn’t win the Test match but that intent was there and that’s what Virat Kohli brings to the table. As he himself said in an interview, he doesn’t mind losing one or two games while looking to win. That’s where his quality comes in.”
What did Harbhajan think of his new role as a support bowler, not as an attacking bowler? “My role would be the same what it was five years back – to win games for India and help my other bowlers who are playing. We need to work as a unit and it is not about me there are other bowlers and we all would look to back each other. That is what I have been doing while I was playing with Anil Kumble, Amit Mishra and other bowlers.”
Ajinkya Rahane, who has been one of India’s best batsmen in recent years, said, “Virat is really aggressive on the field, doesn’t matter whether the opponents are Australia, England or Bangladesh. He gives confidence to each and every individual and we really respect him as a captain.
“During the Australia series we played aggressively and wanted to win each and every match and we will carry this attitude. We are an experienced side and we know the conditions well so from here on we will be doing well.”
Rahane also played the old captain MS Dhoni: “Playing under Dhoni, we youngsters learnt a lot, he gave us massive confidence be it Tests, ODIs or T20s. He actually taught us how to believe in ourselves and how to react to each and every situation. Everyone has learnt a lot under Dhoni and he is still the captain in ODIs.”
India start as overwhelming favorites against Bangladesh, and it is really hard to see the Bangladesh side managing to beat the extremely strong Indian outfit. The most likely result though, is a draw, because of the placid nature of the pitch.
Watch India take on Bangladesh in the only Test match live on Star Sports starting at 10:00 AM from 10 to 14 June.
