NEWSStop the noise, tighten up that defence and get on with the game -- a combative Indian skipper Virat Kohli said on Wednesday ahead of the fourth and final Test against England as he navigated persistent queries on the spin-friendly tracks in the country.
India annihilated England inside two days in the Pink-ball Test at Motera, days after the visitors crumbled on anther spin-assisting pitch in Chennai in the second Test.
England managed 112 and 81 in the Ahmedabad Test after scoring 134 and 164 in Chennai as Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel tormented them in turns.
"There is always too much noise and too much conversation about spin tacks," Kohli said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the fourth and final Test starting here on Thursday.
"I am sure if our media is in a space to contradict those views or present views which say that it is unfair to criticise only spin tracks, then it will be a balanced conversation."
Kohli, at the end of the third Test, had blamed the batsmen's technique for their failure on the Motera track.
"But the unfortunate bit is everyone plays along with that narrative (spinning tracks) and keeps making it news till the time it is relevant. And then a Test match happens, if you win on day 4 or 5, no one says anything but if it finishes in two days, everyone pounces on the same issue," he said.
Kohli cited one of India's losses in New Zealand when the team struggled on a seaming pitch. He recalled how it was batsmen's technique, and not the track, that came in for scrutiny.
"We lost in New Zealand on day three in 36 overs. I am sure none of our people wrote about the pitch. It was how India played badly in New Zealand.
"None of the pitches were criticised, no one came and saw how the pitch was doing, how much the ball was moving and how much grass was there on the pitch," he said.
Kohli said his team has been successful over a period of time for adapting to conditions instead of complaining about them.
"The reason for our success is that we have not cribbed about any pitch we have played on and we will continue to play like that.
"We all need to be honest with ourselves what is the idea behind continuing this narrative and what purpose it serves people who keep continuing the conversation which is one-sided," he said.
Kohli bats for rotation policy in age of bio-bubbles
India skipper Virat Kohli feels rotation policy is the way forward in the age of bio-bubbles as mental fatigue caused by restrictive quarantines will make it extremely difficult for players to stay hungry.
England have been following a rotation policy in their ongoing tour of India, something that has drawn criticism from legends such as Kevin Pietersen.
Kohli, though, is convinced that as long as players are staying in bio-secure environments, taking intermittent breaks is not a bad idea.
"The kind of systems you have to follow in the bubble, it can get very monotonous and it is very difficult to keep yourself excited about small things," Kohli said on the eve of the fourth Test against England.
Bio-bubbles became imperative for resumption of sporting action after COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in 2020.
"I feel any format of the game is right place for rotation. No human being can possibly go on for that many number of games throughout of the year. Everyone needs to find windows of having some time off.
"These are the things that need to be considered for as long as you play in the bubble, outside of that it depends on where you stand physically more than mentally. But till the bubble exists, we need to keep the mental factor in the picture as well, because mental fatigue would be a huge, huge factor," he said.
Kohli said for such a policy to succeed, a solid bench strength is paramount. He was pleased that India do not lack in that aspect.
"Our bench strength becomes way more important because if you have guys hungry, ready, who understand where the game is heading and are brave enough to take on opportunities then you can rotate very easily.
"There are eleven more guys who are ready to win a Test match for India, or One-day or T20 and that is exactly what we are striving towards, we have a clear road-map as to where we need to go in the next four-five years, so that our transition is not difficult at all," he said.
Asked if left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav does not fit in team's scheme of things anymore, Kohli said this was not the case.
Kuldeep formed a lethal combination with Yuzvendra Chahal at one point of time but is not the team's first choice spinner any more. Kohli insisted that it has nothing to do with "skill" or "headspace".
"His game is absolutely precise, he's bowling better than he has ever bowled before. (But), combinations, we need to make sure we cover all facets of the game and we have our strongest balanced squad on the path.
"See if a (Ravindra) Jadeja is playing and then you are talking about a third spinner, then you know a Kuldeep (Yadav) comes into the picture way more.
"Because of Jadeja's experience with the bat, and the number of times he has done the job for the team, right now we are going in with Ash (Ravichandran Ashwin), Washy (Washington Sundar) is playing, Axar (Patel) is playing.
"It is all about combinations. If people are not good enough, they won't be part of team India, it is as simple as that."
Kohli also rejected criticism of Cheteshwar Pujara's batting so far in the series.
"About four years ago he was criticised for not scoring away from home, (that) he was only a home track bully. Now he is performing for you everywhere outside of India.
"And few innings every batsman has struggled, barring maybe Rohit (Sharma) and a couple of innings, Ash (Ravichandran) played well, Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) got a 50, I got a couple.
"It has not been easy, so if you now start criticising his game at home, then I don't think that is fair on him. I will keep saying this again and again, along with Jinx, Pujara is our most important Test player."
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