Virat Kohli spoke about various issues in the presser on the eve of the third test match between India and South Africa. Virat addressed the ever-going issue of Rahane and Pujara, and the reckless nature of Rishabh Pant while recalling a valuable piece of advice given by MS Dhoni.
Be sure not to repeat mistakes for 7-8 months: MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli recalled an anecdote involving his former skipper MS Dhoni on the eve of India’s third Test Cape Town. “MS Dhoni once told me that if you make a mistake, be sure not to repeat that (the same mistake) for seven to eight months. That lesson has stayed with me.”
What Kohli also meant, by recalling that conversation with Dhoni, was to bear in mind never to forget mistakes in a hurry. The more one ends up remembering them, the more one is unlikely to repeat them.
With this golden piece of advice, Kohli looks to impart this knowledge to his junior, Rishabh Pant, who has been going through a lean patch in tests. Rishabh came under scrutiny after playing a rash shot in the 2nd test and put India under the bus.
“We spoke with him during training. He will learn, going forward,” the skipper said.
“The batter knows if you played the right shot or not, as long as the individual accepts that responsibility. We have all got out to loose shots for various reasons and it is important that we find out why we did that,” Kohli said of his wicket-keeper-batsman.
Virat Kohli backs Rahane and Pujara
The Indian skipper Virat Kohli also backed Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, two among the senior-most batsmen in the team, to come good and insisted that any kind of transition within the team cannot be forced.
“I can’t pinpoint when we’ll have a transition in the team. The way Pujara Rahane batted in the last Test – that experience is priceless for us… I feel transitions do happen, but they happen naturally, you can’t force them,” Kohli added.
Indian team made two expected changes in the deciding test match. Virat Kohli replaced Hanuma Vihari and injured Siraj paved the way for Umesh Yadav.
Highlights:
• Virat Kohli reveals that the management has spoken to Pant and he will improve as a batter.
• Kohli backs the experienced duo of Rahane and Pujara for the third test.
