Virat Kohli unveils his mantra going into T20 World Cup 2020
With his eyes set on T20I World Cup next year, Indian captain Virat Kohli is ready to take risks in order to transform his players into an unperturbed unit.
Kohli’s bold decision to bat first in a veneu always known to meet the needs of the chasing team may have gone against the Indian side in the third T20 against South Africa, but Virat Kohli stated that the team needs to take risks inorder to find the best combination.
"Look, we will have to take risks. Even when you want to win a game of cricket you have to take risks, so nothing is a given, nothing is a guarantee before you start playing," Kohli said at the post-match press conference here late on Sunday.
"I think as a team if we are willing to get out of our comfort zone a lot more, then we will be unfazed with what happens at the toss. That's our basis idea: trying to take the toss out of the equation as a side."
His extensive batting lineup offers him the liberty to explore but the men in blue still lost the final game of the three-match series by nine wickets to settle for a 1-1 draw, the first match of the series was rained out.
"That's why we are trying to play the best combination we can, (with) people batting till nine. So that if you bat first or bowl first, you know we are in a good position," Kohli said.
"Mentally, if we put ourselves in a situation where we are ready to do anything rather than wanting to do one thing, we will be in a better position as a side to capitalise on any situation that we are in.
"Unless you do that, unless you start taking those risks, you are always going to be put under somewhere or the other. We want to make sure that we iron all those out before we head into the World Cup."
Non of the teams had decided to bat first in the six previous T20Is at this veneu, but Virat Kohli wants his side to become stronger defending side.
134 was a paltry score on this pitch, admitted Kohli but declined to be harsh on his bowling unit after a nine wickets defeat.
"Bowlers coming out of their comfort zone mean at least they get 160 (to defend). You can't defend 130, we didn't get it right with the bat and you can't be too harsh on the bowlers in a T20 game with this kind of total when there is a bit of dew as well.
"They should not be analysed or criticised on defending this low total. We didn't have enough runs on the board, so the bowlers are always under pressure knowing that one or two overs can take the game away from you.
"But I think they have done decently well (in the series overall), we will have to be patient with the combination we are playing at the moment. We will have to strengthen one or two things."
During the presentation and the press conference, the skipper went on to say that he dosen’t want his side to be in a comfort zone.
"... But quickly we realised the pitch didn't allow us to keep doing that. So I think the kind of start we got, 63 for one after that, I think we could have reassessed, thing about 170 rather than 200."
Virat kohli also admitted that the opposition team executed their game plan better.
"Not to take anything away from South Africa, they hit the right areas, they bowled really well, understood the pitch. So it was a combination of good bowling, not great decision-making but, as I said, these kinds of games will keep happening," Kohli said.
"As long as we are wanting to come out of our comfort zone and putting ourselves in situations which could be the case in a big tournament."
Focusing on the three match Test series, Virat Kohli exuded confidence, which stemmed more so from the bowling unit he possesses.
"Our Test team is as strong as it gets in world cricket, especially in our conditions we are one of the best teams. We know exactly what we need to do," he said.
"The kind of bowling attack that we have is always going to be challenging, but at the same time, you have to respect all opposition and make sure that you are playing consistent, solid cricket in all the sessions.
