Virat Kohli dismisses Bhajji’s tweets, says mindset is what that matters
© Getty
India captain Virat Kohli dismissed Harbhajan Singh's tweets about the pitch at Holkar, saying that his team had focused on playing good cricket and not on the wicket. Citing the example of Kiwi spinners' success in the World T20, Kohli said mindset is what that matters.
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan  had predicted that  the third Test against New Zealand in Indore would end inside three and half days as the pitch appeared like it was two days old before the start of the match.
After winning the match on the fourth day to wrap up  the three- Test series in an emphatic fashion, Kohli took a dig at his former team-mate.
“We knew before the series that people will start talking about pitches. We knew pitches will not be dry as monsoon is everywhere and especially in Kolkata, which is a newly-laid wicket. We knew our abilities and we knew we should be good enough to do well on any surface and against any team," Kohli said at the post-match conference when quizzed about Harbhajan's pre-match tweets.
“We believe in our skill and not believe in creating conditions or atmosphere which might suit us partially. We wanted to express ourselves. We finished two games in four days and that gives us a lot of confidence,” Kohli added.
Kohli pointed to India's group-stage defeat against New Zealand in the World T20 at home earlier this year, where the spin trio of Nathan McCullum, Ish
“Even if it is a turning pitch you have to bowl well. Spin is just not something to happen only off the pitch. It depends on how many revs (revolutions) you give to the ball and the use of the shoulder. When we lost to New Zealand in the World Cup, I quite clearly remember, suddenly their spinners were quality bowlers and we were found out! I don't see anyone talking about it now,” Kohli said.
“The same (New Zealand) spinners had played (in this series). Why did not they pick up wickets? It's as simple as that. Our fast bowlers (also) picked up wickets everywhere. Give a guy a cement track to bat on. He should have a mindset to do so. It's as simple as that. That's all I am
