Kohli refuses to be drawn into Smith's mind games
Virat Kohli has refused to be drawn into mind games with Australian captain Steven Smith, who had said that the Indian team were under pressure ahead of the second Test in Bengaluru. Kohli has also defended Jayant Yadav stating that he would regain his form sooner rather than later.
Australian captain Steve Smith, in his press conference today, said that the Indians were under pressure ahead of the Bengaluru Test since Australia were just a couple of sessions away from retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
"Me? As a team? Does it look like [we're under pressure]? I'm pretty relaxed. I'm happy. I'm smiling. It's fine, those are his views and [he can say] whatever he wants to say," Kohli replied with a smile.
"I think it's time we focus on our skills more than what Australia is saying or preparing like. I know these minds games in these press conferences are something they're very good at.
"We're still going to play the cricket that we've played for the last two years and see where the series ends after the fourth game."
Kohli was also adamant that Smith was not the only player in the Australian team that won the visitors the match. Kohli, however, said that Smith's third century in seven Test innings was also because Smith was dropped several times during the second innings.
Pune was a disappointment because of the way we played, not that we lost but the way we lost
"The whole team has to play well against Australia to win a Test match, that's something we've identified. We're not focusing on one player at all," Kohli said.
"If we don't hold onto our chances it doesn't matter, at the end of the day, how many runs we score. We're not focusing on one player only. The whole ten wickets have to be taken twice to win a Test match. The comments and headlines don't matter. They never have, and we won't base our cricket on it."
Kohli added that the home side
"We have the belief that we can win this series. I can assure you that everyone is taking this as a massive challenge and everyone is raring to turn things around in this series and play the kind of cricket we all know that we can play and not take a backward step at any stage," Kohli added.
Pune wasn't his best game, but I won't judge as he has played too little
"Sometimes these defeats are necessary. It is very rare that the whole team fails to contribute...Pune was one of those days. Pune was a disappointment because of the way we played, not that we lost but the way we lost. When you don't have enough intent and you lose the game, that's when it hurts you.
"The defeat gives you an opportunity to understand what are the things we need to work on. Sometimes when you win, you don't focus on everything
Kohli was also asked about the performance of all-rounder Jayant Yadav, who failed to follow-up his heroics against England while playing the Aussies. The
"Jayant has been outstanding. He has been brilliant, very intelligent. All of us go through the grind. Pune wasn't his best game, but I won't judge as he has played too little. He knows how to turn things around and will get back into the zone," he said.
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