India vs Australia | Virat Kohli assures there's nothing to panic about series defeat

India vs Australia | Virat Kohli assures there's nothing to panic about series defeat

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Virat Kohli has assured that there is no unrest in the Indian dressing room after series assuring that he is clear about the playing eleven in the World Cup, barring one slot. He also justified the frequent changing and chopping as a strategy to try out all the available options.

In what was the final match before the World Cup for the deemed favourites of the mega tournament, Australia defeated India in the fifth ODI at Feroz Shah Kotla on by 35 runs to take home the trophy. The Kangaroos made history in the process as this was their first ODI series win in India in 10 years. 

While this has raised some very pertinent questions months ahead of the World Cup as was evident in the crowd yesterday, skipper Kohli has claimed that the dressing room was unfazed.

"None of the guys in the change room are panicking, the support staff is not feeling down after this defeat. To be honest, it doesn't feel like something off has happened because we've been playing such good cricket,” said Kohli, reported Cricbuzz.

“We've lost three games in a five-game series where the other team has really been more passionate and more energetic than us in the pressure moments and they've grabbed the crucial moments in the game better than us. And they deserve to win," he added.

There was criticism about the experimentations down right before the World Cup, but the world number one batsman stated that the management wanted to see how each player would soak up the pressure in crunch situations. 

"Because we know the things that we were wanting to do in these last three games, but purely because now, it's only the World Cup after this in the One-Day competition. Us as a side, feel balanced, it's just that in the pressure moments, they showed more composure than us. 

“When you look at these games, them being international games, whoever plays, whoever gets a chance a play, we expect that guy to take responsibility and pressure. And hence you expose these kinds of guys to pressure situations where a series is on the line and you expect someone to step up. 

“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But unless you try, you wouldn't know. So, that's exactly what we wanted to do in these games. From that point of view, you can analyse. I cannot breakdown who we expect to take the pressure in the World Cup. Because unless the squad is announced, I cannot reveal," added Kohli.

However, to the fans’ relief, Kohli assured that the team's combination has been ironed out with respect to the English conditions. He also added that there would only be one change in the first team, something which is to be taken with a pinch of salt.

“As a side, we're balanced. Hardik Pandya will come back to the team. With him, there's batting depth, and bowling option opens up. We know where we have to go as a combination. The XI is clear in our head. We just have to take better decisions in pressure situations to go far in the World Cup,“ he signed off.

The Indian team is expected to regroup after a tight schedule in the IPL starting from March 23. The World Cup is scheduled between May 30 and July 14 in England and Wales, and India will play their first match against South Africa on June 6.

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