His side had just been bowled out for 36 but Virat Kohli was typically defiant when breaking down the reasons for one of the most disastrous days of cricket in his country’s history.
Prompted in his press conference to acknowledge the superb performance by Australian quicks Pat Cummins (4/21) and Josh Hazlewood (5/8) on day three in Adelaide, Kohli insisted the incredible collapse was more about his team’s effort with the bat.
What Did Kohli Say?
“The way we batted allowed them to look more potent than they were in the morning, to be honest,” he said. “They bowled similarly in the first innings and we batted way, way better.”
“At an individual level, you have to be clear when you step on the field as to how you want to play, whether you want to take the game forward or you want to play absolutely solid,” he added.
“Historically, I can tell you whenever I have batted well in these situations my plan has been to go and get quick 30-40 runs and take the game forward. This is very significant.
“As much as you plan on the team level, individuals need to have the right mindset in these critical moments and take the game forward. That is how you move towards winning. If your mindset is not right, like ours wasn’t today, when we lacked in intent, the opposition can sense it and put you under extreme pressure.
“That is exactly what happened. The individuals will have to see how they can have the mindset to take the game forward given the team’s situation.”
Australian captain Tim Paine was a little more generous to his match-winning duo.
“To have Pat start the day like he did and Josh Hazlewood, from his very first ball, was just on,” Paine said.
“When you are as tall and quick as our boys and they get it right, it can be an absolute nightmare. Full credit to our bowling attack again. (I’m) absolutely rapt with how we bowled in this Test.”
But wild statistics that emerged after the innings show that Kohli was right.
Cricket’s top intelligence official CricViz said Australia had taken six more wickets than expected from 21.2 overs.
The statistics also support Kohli’s assertion that India was playing very defensively, given that they got 24 runs less than what was offered.
The whole world of cricket is divided on where to put the debt – or the case.
Aussie’s great cricketer Shane Warne couldn’t believe how Cummins and Hazlewood always found him on the edge of Indian bats.
“What a bowling show it was from Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood here in Adelaide. Just the best, ”he wrote on Twitter. “I have to feel sorry for the Indian batsman as I have never seen that coming – it was one of those days when the batsman served everything and did not play and never missed a thing! It’s unbelievable. ”
Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar said any team would be helpless against Cummins and Hazlewood.
“If any other team had been facing that kind of bowling, they would have also got out, maybe not all-out for 36, maybe 80-90,” Gavaskar told Channel 7 on Saturday.
Pakistan great Shaid Afridi also appeared more inclined to give it to the bowlers.
In the end all that matters is Australia has a 1-0 lead – and Kohli won’t be around as India attempts to fight back in the series.
