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Wouldn�t say I was cool as ice, says Kohli after win

By The Assam Tribune

ADELAIDE, Dec 10: Captain Virat Kohli on Monday said he was not �cool as ice� after the Australian lower-order�s spirited resistance delayed India�s march to victory in the opening Test here.

India defeated Australia by 31 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series at the Adelaide Oval. This was India�s sixth Test win on Australian soil, coming after some tense moments thanks to the Australian lower order�s resistance.

�These things happen in Tests, ups and downs through a game. Odds were stacked against them. They fought really well but we executed our plans well,� Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Asked if he felt the heat, the India skipper said, �I wouldn�t say I was cool as ice but you just don�t try to show it. Jasprit was getting worked up in his last over but I just told him to relax. Super proud (of the bowlers), to have four bowlers and take 20 wickets is a great achievement. Something that we haven�t done in the past.�

Kohli said India were �collectively better� in the Test and hoped his batsmen would step up regularly after the bowlers played a part.

�It shows us that if the batsmen step up regularly, we will be gunning for a win in every Test match. Collectively we were the better team and deserved to win,� Kohli said.

It was Cheteshwar Pujara�s century, which bailed India out of a difficult situation on the first day, and the senior pro contributed handsomely in the second essay too, scoring 71 and attracting Kohli�s praise.

�It was priceless from Pujara. His grit and determination brought us back in it. We always knew that runs on the board would make the home side tentative. Any lead was gold and we got 15.

�In the second innings again, he and Rahane batted well.�

Did he think the target of 323 was enough and Kohli replied, �I think our lower middle order and lower order could have done better. We could have added another 30-35 runs more which could have taken the game totally beyond Australia.

�So these are things that we have to think about going to Perth but if someone had told me before the series that I would be 1-0 up as soon as we started the series, I would have taken it with both hands.� � PTI

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