Virat Kohli angry with BCCI’s planning, says preparation for SA tour not ideal
Virat Kohli said that the Indian cricket team would have preferred to train for at least a month before touring South Africa in January next year. The BCCI had delayed the South Africa tour to accommodate the Sri Lanka series.
Skipper Virat Kohli has expressed his unhappiness over the cramped schedule of the India team which leaves them no time to acclimatise before the tough tour of South Africa. The BCCI, in a bid to accommodate the Sri Lanka series, has left little time for the Indian cricket team to prepare for the long South Africa series.
While emphasising on the need to assess (the schedule) in future, Kohli admitted it is the reason the India team management specially requested for seamer-friendly wickets for the Sri Lanka series as it was the only option to prepare for South Africa.
READ | Wriddhiman Saha’s focus on scores, not promotion in the batting order
“Yes (we requested for the pace-friendly wickets), because unfortunately we get only two days before we fly to South Africa after this series gets over. So we have no choice but be in a game situation and think of what’s coming ahead of us.
“Had we got a month off ideally, we would have done a proper preparation in a camp sort of scenario. But we have to sort of make do with what we have,” said Kohli ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Nagpur on Thursday.
The Sri Lanka series ends on December 24 and India play their first Test against South Africa on January 5.
READ | Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s form warning for South Africa, England and Australia
“As usual cramped for time, which I think we needed to assess in future as well because we very easily assess the team when go abroad but we don’t look at how many days we have got to prepare before we go to a particular place to play.
“Everyone starts judging players when results come after Test matches. It should be a fair game where we get to prepare the way we want to and then we are entitled to be criticised.
“So we thought this is an ample opportunity for us to challenge ourselves, put us in a situation.
“As I said, we want to embrace being in difficult conditions. I am not saying that everyone will go out and perform immediately but if we can feel comfortable about it after one or two or three innings, someone will come good.
“And once you come good, you build on that confidence. It’s the same for the bowlers. Yes, we are looking at this as an opportunity,” the India skipper stated.
Catch all the Latest RCB Unbox 2024 LIVE, 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