Virat Kohli assures that India will play positive cricket in Australia

On the eve of India's tour to Australia, stand-in skipper, Virat Kohli appeared quietly confident of beating the Australian team in their own backyard and urged fans and the media to get behind the Indian team in support.

The last time India toured Australia in 2011-12, they lost all the four Test matches without putting up a fight. India's credentials as a touring side took a beating after that tour. However, Kohli, standing in for injured skipper, MS Dhoni, believes that a team can learn from such experiences rather than surrounding itself with the negatives. "I hadn't witnessed such a hostile environment before. My takeaway from that tour was that we always need to be positive. That is what I'll take forward this time. My experience will help me," Kohli said in a press conference ahead of the tour.

While acknowledging the presence of Australia's fast bowling trio, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, Kohli stressed that it was important to be mentally prepared against the kind of bowlers one was expected to face and yet play positive cricket. Kohli also praised the influence of team director Ravi Shastri on the team. "When a youngster looks at Ravi Shastri and hears him speak, there is a big, positive impact," he said.

Sharing his captain's energy, Team Director, Ravi Shastri also underlined the importance of playing positive cricket and stressed that on long-tours such as the one India are about to undertake, it is important to remain in a fresh state of mind and 'switch off' whenever needed.

"I think it's very important that when you have a long tour, you have the ability to switch off...You don't have to be thinking overtime. You need to focus on what you have to do but when you are not playing, you switch off. You have got to have a way of relaxing, you have got to have hobbies. Australia is a great county, there are enough places to go to, get your mind off cricket," the Indian team director said.

The Indian team is scheduled to play two practice matches in Adelaide before heading to 'The Gabba' in Brisbane for the first Test beginning December 4th.