Head coach Rahul Dravid in a candid chat on bcci.tv praised Virat Kohli for ending his century drought in Test cricket in Ahmedabad Test. During the chat, Dravid also took a dig at Kohli as he said that he had to wait a long time to watch him breach the three figures in longest format.
“You made me wait for a long time since I became the coach. But what a beauty and it was an absolute privilege to watch the way you constructed your innings,” said Dravid.
Kohli scored 186 in the first innings to help India post 571 in reply to Australia's 480. Dravid asked how Kohli approached the innings as he did not deal in many boundaries before getting to the century.
“Thanks for your kind words Rahul bhai. As far as approaching this inning is concerned. I knew that I was playing well even in the test matches before we played this one. To be fair, it was a really good wicket to bat on,” said Kohli.
“But having said that I think the Australian whatever the little help was there in the wicket I think they utilised it really well. Their consistency to bowl in the little rough was created through Mitchell Starc’s bowling for Nathan Lyon and the other off-spinner (Todd Murphy) as well. They capitalised on it really well. The fact that they put 7-2 field most of the time for me. It meant that I have to be patient and trust my defence and that’s the template I have already played with in Test cricket,” the 34-year-old added.
Kohli who had been struggling against spinners of late said that defence is one of his strongest suits. Also, the boundaries were not coming easily with Steve Smith not allowing easy pickings with his field setting.
“The boundaries were not easy to come by, to be honest. The outfield was slow, the ball was soft and they were pretty consistent. One that really calmed me down as I am happy to just run ones and twos and score a hundred,” he further said.
Kohli scored runs at a strike rate just over 50. He is not concerned how many runs he scores in a single session.
“I am pretty happy scoring 30 runs in a session and not hitting a boundary and absolutely not be desperate because I know that boundaries will come and even if I have to play like this I can bat six sessions and get a 150. I have no issue doing that.
“Just the preparation paid off and it’s a constant process and it is not something that you do for two months and three months I have been doing this for seven-eight years non-stop every day of my life,” he said.
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