North Sound (Antigua): India skipper Virat Kohli said here Wednesday that he wants the opening combination of Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul to make the most of the four innings that they would get to play in the two-Test series against the West Indies starting here Thursday. It incidentally will also mark the beginning of India’s campaign in the World Test Championships.
“In the opening combination, we have selected only two openers, so the idea is to give them (Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul) four innings. The idea is to just let them go out there and express themselves. Mayank has done really well, KL (Rahul) has performed well in the past, he is looking forward to making things count in Test cricket again,” Virat Kohli said on the eve of the match.
“At the end of the day, as much as individuals want to perform, it is about what you can do as a team. If you look at the Melbourne Test, you will see how (Hanuma) Vihari and Mayank played. Though Vihari scored just 18 or 20 runs, but he batted for 85 balls. He set up the platform for me and Cheteshwar Pujara. So no one should forget the importance of Vihari’s knock,” Kohli pointed out.
“I think these contributions are not recognised or spoken about so much but as a team we all have markers set as to what is expected from certain batting positions. It is up to them to capitalise and express themselves in these four innings,” added the Indian skipper.
Hanuma Vihari was sent to do the fire-fighting in Australia and it would be unfair to not give him another opportunity.
“Look it again depends on the type of combination that we are going with. Vihari has done really well since the time he has come into the team in two difficult tours. Rohit (Sharma) also did well in Melbourne, so it all depends on what combination we want to go with,” Virat Kohli said.
“Vihari also gives you few overs with the ball and he is a pretty solid player. Rohit’s quality we have been seeing for years. So it is about who provides the best balance in terms in the XI we choose,” Kohli pointed out.
India boast of a batting line-up that includes Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane and the skipper said the onus will be on the senior batsmen to control the middle-order.
“We are senior players, we want to take the bulk of the load, that why we are in those position as senior batsman in Test cricket. Along with Jinx (Ajinkya Rahane), three of us have been playing for a while and we want to control that middle order and take the load off the other players,” Kohli informed.
Kohli was also impressed with the healthy competition within the team. “I am just happy about guys grabbing their opportunities. As long as there is healthy competition, for starting the game or contributing for the team, within the group, I think it is a great thing for Indian cricket,” Kohli said.
“We are all happy to be in that position where we have a problem of plenty and not need to find players from places. So it is a great position to be in,” Kohli signed off.
PTI