Kohli tells India to show Sri Lanka who’s number one

AFP: Two years ago Virat Kohli’s India started a series in Sri Lanka as the team almost anyone could beat, on Wednesday they take to the field in Galle as the team to beat.

India may have been nervous last time, but now Kohli says the side has come full circle with “no massive areas of concern” as they seek to strengthen their hold on number one Test nation status.

Two years ago, India had not won a series in seven attempts. They lost the opening Galle Test and it was an electro-shock. They won that series 2-1.

India have since been embroiled in near chaos off the field -- the governing body put under Supreme Court administration and a coach forced out by clashes with the captain -- but near domination in competition: 13 Tests played, 10 won, two drawn and just one defeat.

Kohli said Tuesday that he wants a definitive end to the drama over the departure of Anil Kumble as coach and a winning start to the new era with Ravi Shastri.

“We have spoken enough about these issues and it is something that we are not focusing on at all now,” the skipper Kohli said.

“We are just looking forward to the cricket now and in this series to showcase our skills and have consistent performances, which we have had as a side ever since we started our climb back in the rankings.”

Kohli said Sri Lanka can expect a different start and that India can dominate Tests for years to come. They are expected to defend their top Test ranking in South Africa, England and Australia in the next year.

“It’s pretty different sitting here two years after that particular series,” Kohli said of the last Sri Lanka games. Those Tests were “very important in us coming together as a team in believing that we can win a series and not just matches. So that was the beginning of that mindset.”

The captain added: “I think we have built a really good base for us as a team to be able to do that consistently over the next few years.

“We are pretty humble in our preparations and do the hard yards every game that we play.

“We have all bases covered strongly.”

India have ruled opening batsman Lokesh Rahul out of the first Test with a viral fever.

Kohli said there would be no experiments with the opening lineup, which means Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund should start the batting.

“I don’t think there are any massive areas of concern for us,” Kohli said.

“We’ve been looking to fine-tune smaller areas during the course of the game, which probably people might not be able to pick up.” Kohli said the onus was on the Indian players to “put us into a position where we can’t lose.

“We have been able to put ourselves in a position in games, 80-85 percent of the games, where there’s only one winner left. 

“That’s the kind of sustained pressure that we’ve been able to build.”

Kohli says India ready to negate Herath threat at Galle

​Galle (Reuters): Indian batsmen have done their homework and will not allow Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath to wreck them again at Galle, captain Virat Kohli said on the eve of the first test between the neighbours on Tuesday.

The burly left-arm spinner claimed seven wickets in the fourth innings to derail India’s 176-run chase in the last test they played at Galle in 2015.

India went on to win the next two matches to clinch the series 2-1 and Kohli said his team have learnt their lesson from that series.

“He’s a quality bowler. Last time he really dented us in that small chase,” Kohli said of Herath, who will lead Sri Lanka in the series opener in absence of ailing regular skipper Dinesh Chandimal.

“It was actually a great eye-opener for us. We worked on those things in the next two games and were able to win the series. He played both the games and the ball was still doing a bit but our batsmen had counter-plans in place.”

Herath managed eight wickets in the remaining four innings as the Indians appeared to have found a way to deal with Sri Lanka’s spin spearhead. “We understand what he brings to the table and we understand what needs to be done,” Kohli said.

“I’m sure everyone is taking personal responsibility to plan their innings... We’ve come a long way from that tour. We believe our batsmen will deliver the goods when it’s required.”