Captain Virat Kohli has underlined “unpredictability” as India’s key strength heading into the World Cup, but insists the team still needs the all-important number four spot to be “solidified” after securing a maiden bilateral ODI series win in Australia.
MS Dhoni occupied the much-debated position in the series-decider at Melbourne on Friday, 18 January – and lapped up the opportunity with a calm, undefeated 87 to guide India home in a 231-run chase – but Kohli has hinted at Ambati Rayudu still being the preferred choice at two-down.
“...the middle order we saw in Adelaide is pretty much the most balanced if you look at it. The number four position, again, has been a sort of an area which we want solidified.”Virat Kohli
“If you look at that last game, Ambati Rayudu batted at four, Dhoni at five and Dinesh Karthik at six. Because we brought in Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav, we didn't want Karthik to change his spot because he is doing a good job,” Kohli said after the third and final ODI of a historic tour of Australia.
Rayudu was backed for the position by Kohli during the home series against West Indies last year.
India became the first team not to lose any series in Australia, winning the Test and ODI rubbers while drawing the T20 engagement. The triumph came as a massive morale-booster after unsuccessful tours of South Africa and England last year.
“But because of the combinations we want to play, some times you have to make those changes. Anyone who bats at four will have to take the responsibility for the World Cup, whoever it might be. That person will have to take responsibility at number four,” he added.
Kohli commended his team for making him look good as a captain, while insisting his side’s unpredictability holds them in good stead.
“Our strength as a side has been unpredictability. We haven’t been predictable with our combinations in the past year, if you see the kind of teams we have played with.”Virat Kohli
The skipper said each one of his teammates delivered when it mattered and that has made the side supremely confident for the World Cup in England, which starts on 30 May.
“If you see it has been a team performance in all three series and everyone has contributed which is a very good sign for the World Cup. If everyone is contributing in different stages then only you can win a big tournament.”Virat Kohli
Kohli credited the victory at the MCG to Yuzvendra Chahal, who picked up the best figures for any spinner in ODIs on Australian soil to help bowl the hosts out for 230 after India elected to field.
Chahal claimed a career-best haul of 6/42 after replacing Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI – a move which Kohli said was forced upon India by how well the Australian batsmen were reading the chinaman bowler.
The Indian captain, however, maintained that Chahal and Yadav together were still India’s “most potent” spin combine.
“We thought it might not be a bad thing to bring in Chahal because we were also bringing in Kedar who is an off spinner and gives us an option with left-handers. So Chahal became a more sensible option for us in that regard because he spins the ball back in,” he said.
“...taking six wickets at the MCG is no small feat for a spinner. He is very intelligent bowler and he gets us those breakthroughs. He and Kuldeep are definitely a force to be reckoned with. When they play together, it is our most potent spin attack...”Virat Kohli
“You see their performances. How can you not take them to the World Cup? To come back in such different conditions as a team it gives us a lot of confidence that you can do it in big games at the World Cup.”
Lauding his team for making him look good as a leader, Kohli said: “Captaincy is not a thing that is individually controlled. Your team is what makes you look good as captain. I said that after the Test series win as well. The credit has to go to everyone because if you see the runs contributed it is spread across a few players.”
“We are going from Australia unbeaten and it’s been a wonderful time and it has been a great tour for us. Glad to finish on this note.”Virat Kohli
Kohli also saved a special mention for the Indian support staff, saying they deserved equal credit for the team’s success on the Australian tour.
“If you see contribution of all team staff, Ravi Shastri has helped in strategy and boost people's confidence. His man management has been outstanding. Bharat Arun has done delightful work with bowlers and in batting Sanjay Bangar's contribution,” he said.
“Players and support staff should have equal credit for the tour's success because they have worked 120 per cent on every day. It was a combined effort,” Kohli signed off.
(With inputs from PTI)
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