India vs Australia | Virat Kohli demands more contribution from lower order

It goes without saying that the biggest challenge for India down under would be the Test series as they failed to win it every single time they have attempted it on previous occasions. India have toured England and South Africa in 2018, and while they have won the T20I and ODI in South Africa and the T20I in England, a win in the longest format has been something that has eluded them for long.

Kohli and Co. would not only have a chance to rectify their away form in Test, but also rewrite history in Australia. And after England’s lower order performances by the likes of Chris Woakes and Sam Curran were the main reason for India’s downfall in UK, skipper Kohli has asked his lower order to step up.  

"Yes, especially the lower order I would say. Because we still understand that at the top it can get difficult where guys are bowling a good spell and so it is really tough. It is relatively easier for the middle order, but again the lower-order contribution will be crucial as we saw in England. Their lower order contribution was much better than ours and that made the difference in the series. 

“That is where we want the guys to be fearless. Actually, that is the best place to bat where an all-rounder who can bowl as well has literally no pressure so if they get going they can change the whole course of the game," said the skipper in the press-conference before leaving for Australia," Kohli said at a conference, reported TimesNow.

India versus Australia has never been a controversy-less series, to begin with. Whether it be the monkey-gate during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2007-08, or the DRS controversy in 2017, a clash between the two sides has always had altercations hiding behind a corner. However, Kohli has assured that India won’t be the side to start things.

"Being the captain of the team, you literally have no room for anything else but to think of what the team wants all the time. You don’t find need for these things at all. As you said, they will not give it back. We were always the ones giving it back. We were never the ones starting it. As long as it doesn’t start, we have no problem in just focusing on our game. 

“We don’t necessarily need to go and look out for something. If they want to play a certain way, we will reciprocate in that way. That’s how the game of cricket goes. In our own minds, we have to keep it competitive and not let energies drop. That will be our main focus," said Kohli.

On the other hand, coach Ravi Shastri has finally assured that the management wouldn’t go for experimentation with the squad anymore with World Cup just months away. He hinted that the side would more or less stick to the 15 that would eventually board the flight to UK in May.

"We will try to play (those) 15, who will go to the World Cup. Chopping and changing is over now. The grace period is over now," Shastri made it clear during the pre-departure press conference ahead of the Australian tour. Now it is the time to really get focussed and play as a unit and then hopefully not have too many injuries, so that we don't have to look elsewhere and take it from there. We don't have too many games now. We have 13 games, so we will look to play the best team at all times," he added.