Virat Kohli acknowledges India's squad depth is their biggest strength
Virat Kohli has admitted that India’s squad depth has been their biggest strength in the last two years as it has allowed them to field players to suit the playing conditions. However, the 28-year-old also added that India’s 3-0 series win was not a true reflection of how strong they are.
India once again proved why they are the no.1 side in Test cricket as they outclassed Sri Lanka by an innings and 171 runs to win the third Test and swept the series 3-0. While Hardik Pandya was awarded the Man of the Match for his swashbuckling century in the first innings and Shikhar Dhawan was adjudged Man of the Series for scoring 358 in three Tests, Kohli believes that it is India’s squad-depth that has helped them dominate the longest format of the game.
Speaking on the squad strength at the press conference after the third Test yesterday, Kohli said, "I would like to believe that has been our strength in the last couple of years. That's why we've been able to get the results that we have because we have played different players on different occasions but everyone has been fit and ready to come and do the job. Mostly we have played people depending on the conditions where we feel they will be most effective.”
“That depth has really helped us capitalise more situations in favour of the team and end up winning Test matches and series. That you can say has been the defining factor," he added.
While batting has always been India’s forte, one of the areas where India have improved drastically in the recent past has been in their bowling department, especially in terms of fast bowling. And the Indian skipper once again reiterated this fact saying, “Shami and Umesh have done really well in the last home season as well for us, both with the new and old balls. That's the reason we backed them in this series also. It's great to see both of them still bowling with lot of heart and putting in that effort. In the last Test and even today the way Shami bowled, it was great to watch. You can see the desire to make something happen for the team. Actually, the breakthroughs from the fast bowlers in the last home season as well was key for us.”
However, while most people see India’s series win against Sri Lanka as a sign of how good they are as a team, the Indian skipper himself begged to differ as he felt that his team have earned their recent results. “No, I don't think so. I feel that we played really good cricket. We won all three tosses. Looking at the nature of the pitches that was a massive factor as well. I believe in the second Test we would have faced more pressure if we had not won the toss because of the way the wicket played from the second day onwards. All those things you have to take into account and look at the larger picture. From that point of