Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday said the team will take the field against England in the fourth Test beginning Thursday at Wankhede Stadium with the same squad. Defending his move, he said the players should feel that they are a part of the bigger plan, i.e to be a good Test side.
“To become the best Test squad for a longer time, you need to back the guys and keep them in the squad and play with them,” Kohli said during a pre-match press conference. When asked if pacer Mohammad Shami will bowl in the fourth Test, the skipper said the team management will take a call in the evening. “Shami has a little soreness in his knee. So we will take a call on him in the evening,” he told reporters.
Kohli did have words of encouragement for his bowlers, who have been impressive in the series so far. “The fast bowlers have got mentally stronger and are happy to play their respective roles,” Kohli said.
Shami picked up five wickets in the third Test at Mohali, in which the hosts beat England by eight wickets to go 2-0 up in the five-match series. The 26-year-old pacer’s career has been marred by injuries. In his three-year-old career so far, Shami has taken 76 wickets in 22 Tests.
Earlier during the day, the Indian team members went through a rigorous practice session ahead of the fourth Test. Indian skipper Virat Kohli was seen honing his batting skills at the nets. He has scored 405 runs in three Tests so far, including a hundred and two fifties.
Captain @imVkohli getting into the groove ahead of the 4th Test in Mumbai #TeamIndia #INDvENG @Paytm Test cricket pic.twitter.com/U0zUqrkWvz
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 7, 2016
Since taking over reins of the team in December 2014, Kohli has not lost a Test series so far. Recently, the Indian team under him beat the visiting New Zealand team 3-0 at home.
