INDIA TOUR OF AUSTRALIA, 2018-19

Kohli wary of Lyon threat in Adelaide reunion

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

"It's just in our heads wanting to bring our A game in the first match itself" © Getty

One of the lasting images from the thrill-a-minute final session on Day 5 of the Adelaide Test from 2014 was of Virat Kohli, with dropped shoulders and clear dejection. Mitchell Marsh's catch at deep mid wicket ended Kohli's second century of the game, and effectively India's chances of making a statement start to the tour. And at the helm of such a plot-line was Nathan Lyon, who picked 12 of his 23 wickets of the series in Adelaide.

In nearly four years since that day, Lyon has bagged 191 wickets in 44 Tests and arrives for another such home series as the lone spinner expected to complement the highly-competent pace battery at Australia's disposal. As far as India are concerned, they seem to have a fair idea of what's coming their way.

"The last time we played him, we had to be sort of positive against him because he is such a good bowler in these conditions. He understands the pace of the wicket, the bounce it's going to provide him and the where the fielder should be," Kohli said in a pre-match press conference in Adelaide.

"He hits the bat harder and quicker than any other spinner that I have faced in Australia. You have to be at your best against guys like Nathan and their bowling attack. We definitely aren't going to think too much about anyone but we are also not going to be tentative against anyone. We just have to back our game and show that we are confident of our skill sets and guys have to find ways to play different bowlers accordingly."

"Some might want to sweep the off-spinner and some might not. So we just have to figure out our game plans, as I said, adapt quickly, see how the wicket is behaving and find a way to score runs. We just don't want stand there and do nothing. You got to score runs if you want to win Test matches."

In both their recent away Test series - in South Africa and England - India made slow starts, losing the opening game and then having to play catch up. The takeaway at the end of the eight Tests across the two tours were two wins - one each in both the countries - which is something Kohli is keen to change. And not being tentative as the series rolls in Adelaide from Thursday is one way to go about achieving that, as per the Indian skipper.

"We are not looking to start tentatively. We all want to express ourselves, go out there and be positive. (I am) Not meaning that we are going to play rash shots and we are going to be all over the place with the ball, but it's just in our heads wanting to bring our A game in the first match itself, then try and lay a good foundation for us and capitalise on that as the series goes on."

"We don't wait to figure out what the condition of the pitch is going to be, we got to read it really early and alter our games accordingly which I think we failed to do in the last tours (South Africa and England). When we have done it, we have won games but we will have to do it for longer periods to be able to win series which is our goal. We don't want to be a side that plays exciting cricket one Test match. We want to be a consistent side and for that we need to adapt quicker than we have in the past."

Kohli also called for bringing about a collective effort for sustained periods, which particularly needs their batsmen to step up at a time when the bowling unit - particularly the fast bowlers - have put in appreciable performances away from home.

"It takes character, it takes grinding out tough situations because as I said, (the) Australian team has got great skills, specially their bowling attack is really strong. So, they will challenge us a lot more so we will just have to ride that particular phase and then capitalise on sessions that go our way.

"So, I think as batsmen we are looking at those opportunities purely because we need to step up as a batting unit and we understand that. The bowlers are in great form as we all know, it's just the collective performance that needs to go on a regular basis. It should not be one-odd Test match. So, that's a challenge we are looking forward to," Kohli said.

Kohli scored his maiden Test hundred in Adelaide in the 2011-12 series ©Getty

One batsman who is widely-anticipated to keep the runs flowing is the Indian captain himself. Even before a ball has been bowled, Kohli has dominated discussions, strategies and press conferences. Adding further to the overriding narrative of the series is the fact that it begins in Adelaide - a venue Kohli regards as 'special'. A tally of 394 runs across four Test innings - including his maiden Test ton in the 2011-12 series and the twin effort in 2014 - tells you why.

"I love coming to this ground [and] the city in general. I really enjoy the city, I don't know what the connection is, but I just feel really good here. Not to say that the performances are always guaranteed in a certain place but yeah, coming to Adelaide I feel different from places that I have gone in the world and that's been the case.

"It happens to every cricketer, they have a favourite ground away from home. For me, Adelaide has always been special, because I scored my first Test ton here so, from then on the connection started. Yeah, it's a great place to play cricket in general; the stadium has been redone, the pitch has always been good... so it's about which team plays better, it's been that kind of pitch. They are no-givens on the Adelaide pitch. I have enjoyed my cricket here."

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