Virat Kohli put up a brave front in his first interaction as stand-in Test captain, saying the Indian team needs to adopt an aggressive mindset if they are to do well in Australia. The Brisbane Test will be Kohli's first as captain, leading India in in place of the injured MS Dhoni, but team director Ravi Shastri expected Kohli to appear to be a far more experienced captain.
The Indian team will leave for Australia early on Saturday for a four-Test series, to be followed by a tri-series also involving England. That will be followed by the World Cup, to be played in Australia and New Zealand in February-March next year. Despite India's run of poor results overseas over the last three years, Kohli said the mood in the camp was upbeat.
The Indian team will leave for Australia early on Saturday for a four-Test series, to be followed by a tri-series also involving England. That will be followed by the World Cup, to be played in Australia and New Zealand in February-March next year. Despite India's run of poor results overseas over the last three years, Kohli said the mood in the camp was upbeat.
"Right now the mood in the team is very positive, we are focusing on being aggressive and having that mindset throughout as a habit rather than fading out in six months' time," Kohli said.
Kohli admitted that the experience of having toured Australia previously will help him. India's 2011-12 tour of Australia was a 4-0 disaster, but the improvement in Kohli's Test batting was one of the few bright spots to emerge. He built up his form over the Tests, and carried it over to the tri-series that followed.
"Last tour to Australia was a strong change," Kohli said. "I never experienced the aggression and that kind of an atmosphere. I will try to impart that experience to other players of what to expect and what sort of mindset to go with. Once we go with a negative mindset that will keep catching up. You have to be positive every single day. That is something we will focus on going in this tour.
"When you have a long tour, you have the ability to switch off. Don't be thinking overtime, focus on what you have to do but when you are not playing, switch off. You have got to have a way of relaxing, you have got to have hobbies," Shastri said.
"A round of golf - and Australia is a great country, there are enough places to go to. Get your mind off the cricket, which is very important when you are not playing so that you are fresh and hungry by the time World Cup starts. That's the key. It's not in what form you are. It's the mental state, how fresh and how hungry are you when you get out there. You will be hungry but your mental state has to be extremely fresh."
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