India vs Bangladesh: Virat Kohli lauds pace trio as "dream combination" after thumping win at Indore

Sport360 staff 19:03 16/11/2019
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    • Image - BCCI/Twitter

    The Indian Test juggernaut rolled on with a victory over Bangladesh at Indore, winning their seventh consecutive match at home. This was also India’s third consecutive victory by an innings. Speaking in the post-match presentation at the end of the game, Virat Kohli gushed about his team’s performance.

    “Don’t know what to say, another clinical performance. Very professional with the bat, playing five batters with one guy taking responsibility is what we want with overseas tours coming up. Hats off to the boys, ” the Indian skipper told broadcasters Star Sports.

    The trio of Indian pacers – Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, once again led the bowling department, picking up 14 of the 20 wickets in two innings. Kohli believes that the current crop of fast bowlers is a dream combination for any captain and that when Jasprit Bumrah returns from injury, India will have “one hell of a bowling attack to counter”.

    “These guys (our fast bowlers) are on top of their game, when they bowl, it looks like any pitch is a good pitch. Jasprit isn’t here but this is a dream combination for any captain, ” said the 31-year-old.

    “Having strong bowlers is the most important thing in any team. The numbers and records are there for everyone to see, that’ll remain in the books, we haven’t focused on it.”

    Opener Mayank Agarwal was awarded the Player of the Match for his stellar double hundred. Playing in only his sixth Test, Agarwal has slotted into the top-order brilliantly, scoring three centuries and as many fifties. Kohli spoke about the importance of the senior players guiding the rookies in the team to realize their potential.

    “We’re looking at keeping the standards up, motivating the next lot of players. In that process, we’re pushing up the standards of Indian cricket. We don’t care about numbers at all as a team.
    “The mindset is simple, when you see a young guy coming in to bat, in Tests I know how much time it took me to get those big hundreds, so I know the importance of getting big runs.
    “It’s important as a senior batter to let them know to keep going. I want them to not make the mistakes I made as a youngsters to make them world class cricketers.”

    India and Bangladesh will lock horns next in the first ever day-night Test in the subcontinent. Kohli is excited to be part of the occasion and is looking forward to the challenge.

    “The pink-ball Test is going to be exciting, will be a challenge for the batters. With the older ball, it doesn’t swing that much so the bowlers will have a challenge. We’re just happy to be among the first to play pink-ball cricket for India.”

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