Special report from Southampton. In a departure from his usual strategy, Virat Kohli has indicated that he might stick with the same playing XI for the next Test. Up until now, he had made changes in all 38 matches he led. Kohli mentioned that with everyone healthy and Ashwin looking sharp and well-prepared in training, there is no immediate need to shake things up.विशेष संवाददाता, साउथैंप्टन। भारतीय कप्तान विराट कोहली ने अपनी कप्तानी में अब तक खेले 38 मैचों में हर बार अंतिम एकादश में बदलाव किया है। जब उनसे पूछा गया कि क्या अगला टेस्ट ऐसा होगा जिसमें वह अंतिम एकादश में बदलाव करेंगे तो उन्होंने कहा कि हमें नहीं लगता कि हमें कुछ बदलने की जरूरत है। उन्होंने कहा कि सभी खिलाड़ी फिट हैं। अश्विन ने अच्छी वापसी की है। उनका अभ्यास सत्र अच्छा रहा। वह अच्छा कर रहे हैं।
Regarding squad rotations, Kohli explained that changes aren't always a choice—injuries often play a hidden role. He believes the current squad is in the right place and doesn't require adjustments. He expects his players to lean on their experience and replicate the hard work they put in at Trent Bridge, admitting that in 2014, the team failed to capitalize on an early lead.
Looking back at 2014, India suffered three losses after starting with a 1-0 lead. Kohli believes the current atmosphere is electric. He admitted that when a team is down 0-2, the narrative is usually about a whitewash, but India is determined to fight back. He emphasized that the team has discussed being ruthless and consistent in critical moments, as they were in Nottingham, and they need to maintain that level of execution twice more to achieve their goal.
The captain warned against complacency after one win. He noted that if Nottingham required immense effort, the coming games will be even tougher as England will be desperate to reclaim their dominance.
Kohli clarified that while a full-pace attack would be the obvious choice on a Johannesburg-style pitch, he doesn't believe the current surface shares those same characteristics.
He argued against relying solely on fast bowlers, recalling how spinners were crucial in the second innings of the previous match. Given the hardness of the surface, he believes spinners will become highly effective once footmarks develop.
Batsmen play with an open mindखुले दिमाग से खेलें बल्लेबाज
When asked if the batsmen need to adjust their approach to handle the bounce, Kohli encouraged them to play with an open mind. He doesn't believe in rigid strategies, stating that the key is flexibility and adapting to how the wicket behaves in real-time.