As Virat Kohli’s team India gears up to take on the mighty South Africans in their own backyard, the Indian captain has drawn the outline in his first press interaction in Cape Town, South Africa. In that press interaction, he spoke about AB de Villiers and also on what he expects from his boys in the tough conditions of South Africa. Virat Kohli’s statement was very crucial as he is making his way back into the team after a brief layoff, lay-off taken due to personal reasons.
We will try to pick out the things Virat Kohli meant in a simplified manner. It is more like decoding Virat Kohli’s media interaction in 3 points.
Kohli and Dhawan having open net session practice. #INDvSA #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/GEtl1RAbwu
— Tabrez (@its_tabrez_) December 31, 2017
It is not AB de Villiers vs Virat Kohli: He has made it clear that even if AB is his RCB-mate, but when they are representing their nations they dish out the best they have. That is professionalism for you!
The diktat is laid: He mentioned ‘group’ in the statement which meant he is talking about collective performances. He also highlights the fact that everybody wants to stand out but then he says that atmosphere can only be created if the team sticks together and thrives on each other’s success.
I was away for something which was much more important, switching back to cricket was not difficult at all, cricket is in my blood: Virat Kohli #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/0zh261Jbjy
— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2017
The better team will win: It is a long series and hence every player will be tested to the hilt and hence there is no place for hiding. The team that plays better cricket wins and rightly so. He also talks of the hunger in the Indian team to perform and that could be an element that sets them apart offshores.
Virat Kohli. Middle of the bat. Sound like a shotgun going off. Work under way in Cape Town. #cricket #IndvSA @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/qKqcdkVuwr
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) December 30, 2017
Here is what Virat said on AB de Villiers:
“It’s not like only two guys are playing in this series. AB is a great friend of mine. I respect the way he plays the game and I have always respected him as a person as well. But, when we are playing against each other – it’s not that we cross the line with each other, we are just not like that.”
He added,
Every player wants to be the stand out batsman and make contributions towards the team winning. Unless you have that as a group, you don’t have too many chances of winning a series. Some people may have brilliant individual performances and then you will be fine with one or two people doing well.”
“Right now, the hunger we have in the group, everyone wants an opportunity to perform and that’s very exciting. I can’t speak for the opposition because AB hasn’t played much Test cricket since he played against us and he’s coming back after a while. But, look, setting apart all the spice created on the outside, the team that plays well together for a longer period of time has a better chance of winning the series.”
The 1st Test between India and South Africa starts on January 5 at Newlands, Centurion.
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