Virat Kohli all praise for Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma post 2nd Test win vs Australia

By BD Narayankar

Bengaluru: Indian skipper Virat Kohli lavished praise on the team’s bowlers for ensuring that Australia‘s first innings lead was not too big during the Day 4 of 2nd Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Benagluru on Tuesday. “Yes, our bowlers gave only 47 runs in the first session on day two. They [Australia] could have taken the game away from us because they were 40 without loss. Probably, the momentum changed at that stage. Then we picked up six wickets conceding less than 100 runs I think we picked up from here,” he said. Kohli said Ravindra Jadeja, who took seven wickets in the match, was “outstanding”. Full cricket scorecard: India vs Australia, 2nd Test at Bengaluru

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“Umesh and Ishant supported very well. These are the things you need as a team to change when the tide is going against you. But one thing is we never stop trying. We did not give in and we did not let the opposition roll over us and get a big first innings total,” he said. “To chase even 120 in the fourth innings will be difficult here. 150 can be a good total to defend. We surprised ourselves by winning 75 runs eventually at the close of the match,” he added. Full cricket updates: India vs Australia, 2nd Tests, Day 4

Kohli said the victory has also made it clear that India does not rely merely on him to do the scoring. “Our opponents used to think that once I get out, the team will be under pressure. I told the team that everyone has to perform,” he said. “If my performance is good and the team wins I am always happy. So, our plan was that the focus should be on the team’s performance and let opponents focus on me. This is what exactly happened in this Test match.” IND vs AUS, 2nd Test at Bengaluru: Kohli almost calls Smith a ‘cheat’

Kohli also brushed aside criticism by Australian wicket-keeping great Ian Healy, who had stated that he was losing respect for the Indian for his on-field conduct. “We have 1.2 billion people in India and one person doesn’t make a difference,” he said. Kohli said the last 10 days have been challenging for the team but “we keep it simple. we don’t take too much of load”. Virat Kohli: Bengaluru win against Australia is the best for me

The skipper defended his decision to go for referrals when he was dismissed in both the innings. However, he got it wrong on both occasions. “It can happen to anybody, a batsman makes mistake and gets out,” he explained. Asked if he would leave the spin bowling combination unchanged in the remaining two matches, Kohli said, “Spinners have been outstanding and I expect them to do my job in the home season as they have done so far.”

Kohli was also effusive in his praise for Man of the Match KL Rahul, who scored two decisive half centuries in the game. “When momentum was not going in our way, he stuck in well. In the coming games we want to push those scores forward and put the team into more consolidating positions,” he said.