I Am Batting Really Well: Virat Kohli Plays Down Concerns Over Bad Form

The Virat Kohli-led Indian National Cricket Team suffered their first defeat in seven Tests, after Kiwi bowled them out for 191 in the 2nd innings, with a meagre lead of eight runs. Kiwi openers Tom Blundell and Tom Latham completed the formality of a run chase without losing a wicket in just 2nd over of their 2nd innings.

Not only as a captain, but Virat Kohli also continued his poor form with the bat in the ongoing tour. In the last nine innings, Kohli couldn’t score a century in 19 innings, as he is enduring his worst run since 2014 England tour.

I am batting really well – Virat Kohli

Speaking to the media in New Zealand, India captain Kohli said Team India will look to improve things and do whatever that is required to come back from the 10-wicket loss against New Zealand in Wellington.

Kohli said there are a lot of people who want to get into their head knowing they are a side ‘who can beat anyone anywhere’ by making ‘too much out of’ the hammering at the Basin Reserve.

The star batsman believes that it is a matter of three to four bad innings falling at a wrong time for the team. Kohli wants to execute things in a better way in the upcoming few games without fail. He stressed the importance of doing basics right.

“I am absolutely fine, I am batting really well. I feel that sometimes that scores don’t reflect the way you are batting. That’s what happens sometimes when you don’t execute really well. Look when you play so much cricket and play for so long, you will obviously have 3-4 innings which don’t go your way. If you try and make too much out of it, it will keep piling on. I think it’s about staying in a good space,” Kohli said.

“I know the chat on the outside changes with one inning, but I don’t think like that. If I thought about people on the outside, I would be outside right now. I think it’s all about doing the basics right and putting the hard work in the practice,” Kohli added.

I am looking forward to contributing to a win:

Further, Kohli added that performing in the middle is all about the mindset and he wants to do it right to win it from the next Test. He also put his team ahead of him saying that winning the game is more important than scoring runs for personal milestones.

“You can’t really think walking out that ‘I have to do it all the time’. You want to do it but if it doesn’t come off, you don’t have to beat yourself up too much. You take pride in performing and I have always done that. I am looking forward to contributing to a win in the next Test,” he further said

“It doesn’t matter what I do. It’s not about my performance on the tour. If the team wins, even 40 is good. If the team loses, even a 100 is irrelevant. I am going to stay in that mindset,” Kohli concluded.

Kohli’s comments come after India were handed a 10-wicket thrashing by New Zealand in the 1st of the two-match series.

The World No. 1 Test side avoided a follow-on but managed to set only a target of nine runs which New Zealand chased down on the morning of the fourth day’s play in Wellington.

Also Read: We Know How Strong This India Team Is, Says Kane Williamson After New Zealand Thrash India