Virat Kohli : You will not see a Pune-like performance from us again

Virat Kohli : You will not see a Pune-like performance from us again

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Virat Kohli has assured Indian cricket fans that they would not have to endure a performance like the Pune one from the team again in the ongoing series against Australia. Kohli also accepted that there was a "lack of intent" from the team in the first Test and that it would not happen again.

India suffered a humiliating 333-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the first Test in Pune where the batting lineup could only manage a total of 212 runs in both innings combined. This was the first time that India suffered a home Test defeat since Kohli took over the reigns of the Test team.

“We assure you, we are not going to repeat Pune-like performance in the remaining series. We accept the fact that there was a lack of intent from our side in the previous match,” Kohli said during the pre-match conference in Bengaluru.

Since the defeat, there has been some backlash about the Indian team's selection for the Pune Test, where India chose to opt for five bowlers whilst ignoring the option of a sixth batsman. The Indian captain was asked if India got the team wrong in Pune, but Kohli quickly dismissed the question stating, "You wouldn’t have asked this question if we had won. The result changes the line of questioning."

With Bengaluru not expected to help the spinners as much, Mohammed Shami was called up to the team and was seen practising at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, the Indian captain refused to give out too much information about the team that would play tomorrow but did rule out the inclusion of Hardik Pandya owing to a shoulder injury. 

“Hardik Pandya is not available for selection in the second Test, he has a niggle in his shoulder. But I won’t let it (combination) right now, but we too have two to three combinations that we are looking at and not one set pattern,” said Kohli.

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