Virat Kohli reveals the reason for India’s success across formats in recent times

There is an aura of invincibility around the Indian team, something that makes you believe that no matter what the match situation, someone is bound to put their hand up and rescue India out.

Virat Kohli has worked wonders with this team, inculcating that much needed ruthlessness within all players and giving them the platform to take on challenges and come out on top with flying colours.

But more than anything Virat Kohli feels that credit needs to go to the team management and the selectors for picking format specific players, and giving them a long run in the side to prove their mettle.

“It has not only been a combined effort of the players but also the management group, which has given great ideas. Picking specialist players for formats, picking mystery bowlers (Kuldeep), giving them confidence. They can give runs in one game, but they will always hit back,” Kohli said during the post match presentation.

He then also went onto praise the duo of Bhuvi and Bumrah who have been executing their supreme skills during crunch situations.

“Bhuvi and Bumrah have been brilliant in limited-overs lately. You need to be able to execute yorkers and slower balls and you need the skill. But you need to have a good head as well, make batsmen hit the wrong areas.” Kohli said.

Shikhar Dhawan’s absence did not hurt India much in the ODI series, as Rahane stepped up to the plate and wonderfully went about his business. But Kohli is happy to have Dhawan back who he feels is an impact player and is indispensable to the team’s plans for the 2019 World Cup.

“It was unfortunate for Dhawan to miss out on so many games but he is back and even this innings of 15 will give him confidence.”

India cruised to a rather one-sided win in the 1st T20, thanks to a familiar Australian collapse. Australia were restricted to 118/8 from 18.4 overs before rain came pouring down. When the match resumed, India needed 48 to win from 6 overs, and the duo of Kohli and Dhawan knocked off the runs with 3 balls to spare, giving India a 1-0 lead in the 3 match series.

The second T20 will be played in Guwahati on the 10th of October

About the author

Utkarsh Bhatla