Players Details
Fixture & Results
Virat confident, NZ look to fight back
29th September 2016
Kolkata, Sep 29: Quietly confident of continuing the good run in the series opener at Kanpur, skipper Virat Kohli said that he had the arsenal at his diaposal to negotiate the challenge they will be up against when they take on New Zealand in the second Test at Eden Gardens tomorrow.
"Pitch looks good. As the home side we feel if we can put up big runs on board, it puts pressure on the opposition. We had a great chance to put up a 400 plus score in the first innings in the first Test. But we didnt capitalise on it. A big score on the board means the opposiion has to work harder may be a session and half more. That gives you an advantage."
Virat continued, that the Eden Gardens pitch is as expected. "It will be a good track to bat on. We would like to put up a big score."
Talking about team combination and inclusion of Amit Mishra, he said: "In Kanpur we felt we needed an extra batsman. Ishant is injured or he would be ready to start. We are looking at Amit as the Kiwi side has 5 lefhanders."
Allyaing fears of Aswin injury, he also did not want to give potence to Gambhir knocking at the nets separately. "We felt adding another off spinner, would help us. If we play 3 spinners, someone along with Ashwin will do the same kind of job that we can require against left handers," Virat said.
"Usually the day before the match we try out the batting combination that will play to see how it looks. But if someone wants to pull out of nets and just knock the ball around it does not mean he will not play," he said of Gautam Gambhir, who has been brought in to replace the injured K L Rahul.
Virat was very happy that Ravinder Jadeja was slowly realising his pitential as a batsman. "He doesnt know how good he is. I am very happy that he ia working hard on his batting and its showing. He needs constant reassuring. But he is coming good in recent times."
Talking about the Kiwi challenge, he said: "The series is going to be competitive. New Zealand came with a plan. First game we had a few partnership. So all depends on how good we play. Test cricket is about coming back from situations rather than being top all the time. We not pre-pannning. We feel we are skilled enough to tackle any problem that comes in our way, so we go with clear heads. Then it becomes easier to adapt."
For the visitors the main mantra to get into a better position is by getting more runs on the board and to play the spinners well.
“Ashwin and Jadeja are the world class bowlers. They had troubled us on the Kanpur test and the only way to put pressure on India is by handling the spinners well”, Tom Latham said.
Asked about any especial plans for the test to restrict Cheteswar Pujara and Murali Vijay he said, “We just need to play the game naturally. But honestly if we can get few early wickets it will be a great advantage for us. Our plan will be stick to the basics and try and take wickets in quick succession”.
About running out of luck in cricket, he said, how Ross Taylor was depressed after getting run out cheaply, when he was required to say back on the wicket in Kanpur at a crucial point of time.
“We had a good start in the Kanpur. Everything was going according to the plan but suddenly the match turned its head and India went on the top. Also the run out of the Ross Taylor against the run of play was disappointing."
CAB MEDIA DESK
Carpe Diem Arindam Basu & Sayan Banerjee
