Virat Kohli says Pune loss to Australia a reality check that India needed | Cricket - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Virat Kohli says Pune loss to Australia a reality check that India needed

Feb 25, 2017 07:45 PM IST

Virat Kohli believes that the 333-run defeat against Australia in Pune is a much-needed reality check that will help the India cricket team bounce back.

India captain Virat Kohli said the 333-run loss in the first Test against Australia is a reality check that the team needed after a 19-match unbeaten run. This was India’s first defeat at home since losing to England in Kolkata in 2012. India had not lost a match at home since then and Kohli hopes this loss will serve as similar inspiration to bounce back. (LIVE BLOG)

Steve O’Keefe celebrates after dismissing Virat Kohli in the first Test match between Australia and India in Pune.(BCCI)
Steve O’Keefe celebrates after dismissing Virat Kohli in the first Test match between Australia and India in Pune.(BCCI)

“The last time we had a performance like this, we had the most outstanding run after that. I would say that we needed something like this for us to get a reality check and understand what are the things we need to work on and keep persisting with it, not take anything for granted at any stage, especially at Test match level,” Kohli said after losing the Test.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Kohli however didn’t forget the main issue that got India in such a situation. “If you don’t apply yourself, any bowling attack can look dangerous. And I certainly would like to think that that was the case with our batting line-up in this game,” Kohli said, adding that this was their worst batting performance at home.

“It rarely happens that four-five batsmen make errors in judgment in both the innings, especially with the way we batted in the last few months. I would say this was our worst batting performance and we need to accept that. Our batting wasn’t up to standard and that’s certainly how we shouldn’t bat from here onwards.”

READ | Is Virat Kohli a one-man army for India? Pune defeat hints at that

Kohli was out on duck in the first innings and failed to play a captain’s knock in the second innings where he was cleaned up by O’Keefe on 13. It was a disastrous dismissal, given that he had shouldered arms to the delivery and let the ball uproot his off-stump at a significant juncture of the game. Kohli admitted his error in judging the delivery.

“It was a judgment error from my side. I left the ball too early. I should have waited for the ball a little more. You can’t say which ball is going to turn or which isn’t. You’ve got to play the line and I certainly didn’t do that. It was my fault,” he said.

This was Kohli’s lowest aggregate score in a match at home in which he had batted in both innings. The captain, however, played down the impact of the loss, stating that the result wouldn’t affect the team’s morale.

“I wouldn’t think too much about this Test. If after 18 or 19 Tests, we play one bad game, you have to accept that it’s a part of international cricket,” Kohli said. “I don’t know if people were thinking that we couldn’t lose at all, but in our mind there was no such thing. If we don’t play good cricket, then any team can beat us.”

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away!- Login Now!
Catch all the Latest Cricket News, Live Cricket Score and IPL 2024 Schedule, match updates along with Cricket Schedule, Purple Cap in IPL 2024, Orange Cap in IPL 2024 and other related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Bihan is a multimedia correspondent and works with the sports desk in Mumbai. He mostly covers cricket but his interests include football, tennis and badminton as well.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On