Southampton: India skipper Virat Kohli hinted at a change in the team after their eight-wicket loss to New Zealand in the final of the World Test Championship on Wednesday, saying the need to bring in the right people in the Test team. Virat said that after reviewing the performance, the right people will be brought in, who will come with the right mindset to perform well. The Indian batsmen were very disappointed in the final, especially in the second innings, as the team lost the match by eight wickets. Kohli did not take anyone’s name but said that some players are not showing the spirit to score runs. After the match, Kohli said in the online press conference, “We will continue to introspect and there will be talks on what should be done to make the team stronger. Will not follow the same path. It is understood that some senior players will be given time and they will be able to save their place in the team only after performing well in the five-Test series against England.
“We will not wait for a year,” he said. If you look at our limited overs team, we have the depth and the players are full of confidence. It is needed in Test cricket as well. Kohli said, “We have to plan afresh after reviewing and understand what is effective for the team and how we can play fearlessly. The right people have to be brought in who come with the right mindset to perform well. For the current team management, 50 runs in 80 balls are more valuable than 15 runs in 80 balls. Over-defensive mindset puts pressure on the incoming batsmen. Kane Williamson scored seven runs in the first innings but scored a half-century in 80 balls in the second innings at the time of need in the last session.
Kohli said, “It is necessary to continuously improve our performance in the game. Especially when you are the number one team for many years in a row, then suddenly your level cannot drop. “We will take these decisions and talk about it,” he said. He also talked about scoring runs in front of a brilliant bowling attack like New Zealand. Virat said, ‘We have to work on how to score runs. We don’t have to let the match get out of our hands. I don’t think there is any technical problem.
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Kohli said, ‘It is a matter of awareness and facing the bowlers fearlessly. The bowlers are not allowed to bowl in one place for a long time provided the ball is not swinging as strongly as it did on the first day. He asked the batsmen to strike a balance between taking well-planned risks and staying at the crease. He said, ‘The focus should be on scoring runs, not on worrying about losing wickets. Similarly, you can put pressure on the opposing team or else you will play for fear of getting out. You have to take planned risks.
