COLOMBO: Savouring a crushing 278-run series-levelling victory over Sri Lanka on Monday, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said that his first Test win as captain of a young team is very satisfying especially after the loss in Galle.
"It's pretty satisfying especially knowing we came pretty close twice before at Adelaide and Galle. I think the Galle defeat hurt us in the right way. It's a commendable effort by all the boys, to regroup so well after the loss like that knowing that we should have won the game. I think it's tremendous effort to get yourself together, put yourself in and play the same way again.
"To capitalise and improve on the same situation that we failed to in the first Test shows the guys are keen to improve and hungry to win. As a captain that is very satisfying," he said.
Kohli said nothing makes him happier than seeing that they were able to bowl out the rivals twice.
"I'm more pleased with the bowlers taking 20 wickets rather than guys getting hundreds. That's usually been the case for a very long time to have someone getting the runs. The session we had in the first innings where we literally squeezed them was one of the best bowling session I've been part of with this Indian cricket team.
"In the past two years, that was easily our best bowling effort as a group, especially in terms of partnerships. I'm really happy for them and in a game like today, we actually closed it off very convincingly. That actually gives them more confidence. Next time they go around, they will go with the belief they can take crucial wickets," he said.
Kohli gave a thumbs up to spinner Ravichandran Aswin's aggressive style of bowling.
Off-spinner Ashwin has picked 17 wickets in two matches and for second successive time in this series, India were able to achieve their target of taking 20 wickets.
"Ashwin has been a champion bowler for us. He's been taking wickets for us everywhere. Even on the Australia tour he was more aggressive with the ball. Even in his mindset, he's bowling in a more aggressive manner. It's almost impossible to get him away. He's bowling beautifully right now and I'm glad to see him with this kind of mindset, attacking the batsmen all the time," said Kohli.
Talking about whether bowling last on this wicket was a certified advantage, Kohli said, "Definitely. Last game in Galle why we got into the game early was we took five wickets in the first session."
"Because batting first and getting a decent total, obviously puts pressure on the opposition to equal that or get some sort of lead or you are always struggling to catch up in the game. We batted first and batted really well. Knowing the conditions in Sri Lanka, where the ball turns fourth and fifth days, you are always in the game if you are bowling last."
Despite India's win, Rohit Sharma's demotion to number five and Ajinkya Rahane's promotion to number three was a keen talking point, especially with the latter scoring his fourth Test hundred at his new batting spot.
"These are the guys who are going to play Test cricket for a long time for India. And guys can be shuffled up and down the order according to what the game demands. It's not certain that a certain someone would bat at a certain position. You might see people floating around according to situations in the game.
"But I believe all these guys, 7-8 of us, are the ones who are going to play for a long time and they are getting confident. When you know that you can count on 6 or 7 batsmen that are playing for you, as a bowling unit also it gives you a lot of confidence," signed off Kohli.
Kohli also gave a clear indication that Cheteshwar Pujara is likely to come back into the playing XI as an opener alongside KL Rahul in the series-deciding final Test against Sri Lanka.
Pujara last played for India against Australia in the 'Boxing Day' Test at Melbourne but since then have been out of favour in the last four matches. Kohli also indicated that rookie Karun Nair may also be tried out.
"Looking at these conditions, the reason behind getting someone like Karun Nair in was, we can have Cheteshwar Pujara open. He is pretty solid, and with the new-ball he has opened in the subcontinent before. I remember a couple of Tests where he has opened for India. That was the whole idea behind it," Kohli said.
"And we have another exciting guy in Karun Nair coming in. But the idea behind it was getting Pujara to open along with Rahul and then that gives us even more batting options to play around with," said the skipper.
In the end, the Indian skipper reaffirmed his faith in this young team and highlighted its ability to be flexible as a big asset going into a series-deciding match.
"We will try to stick to the same batting line-up. You need to figure out who's playing well at that point and who can handle a particular position well. I think for a player it is important to figure out who could perform better at a position at that stage. I was talking about that flexibility we have in our batting order.
"Ajinkya can bat at nos. 3, 5 or 6. We know that Rohit can bat at no. 3 and 5. Both can bat well with the tail. The kind of versatility we have in our batting order that everyone is ready to bat at any position and that kind of mindset is important to win Test matches," Kohli said.
© timesofindia
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