Full Speed Ahead

India have become serial losers in Test matches overseas. The sequence that started in 2011 hasn’t been broken yet. India desperately need to turn the corner and Kohli is banking on pace for revival.

“All out pace attack is something that we look forward to in the coming months. It is an area of strength, which we like to build on. That will be a change of character for us, because we in the past never really had two bowlers (Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron) who bowl upwards of 150kph. Ishant (Sharma) is someone who is 6’4 and bowls in the 140s. He also gets the ball to bounce awkwardly. So, that’s something we hope to build on for the future,” Kohli said on Wednesday. There will be Mohammed Shami as well to complement the trio. The Test win at Lord’s a few months ago proved that it could be used as a very potent weapon. Ishant had returned with 7/74 in the second innings as India bounced out England. The pacer then suffered an injury. England fought back to win the series 3-1 but Ishant’s showing was a silver lining.

India now have more options and Kohli thinks Umesh’s progress as a bowler is one of the biggest positives. “I always thought he would be a better bowler as he goes onto play for India in more matches. He has got the strength and ability. He’s a naturally strong guy, who can bowl at a good pace and swings the ball well. He has got a smooth action and is good on the field too. He has all the making of a good fast bowler, but he was lacking in consistency in the past. Now, he has improved in that area and he’s a much smarter bowler. With the new ball his consistency has improved.”

Umesh already has eight wickets in the first three matches of the ongoing series. At Hyderabad, he returned with his career-best figures of 4 for 53. India, however, would be missing Ishant and Aaron — out with a stiff back and right quadriceps problems respectively — in the last two matches.

“Well, I would have liked to have all out pace upfront with Ishant, Varun and Umesh. But it’s fine… Because someone’s niggle is an opportunity for some other.”

Test cricket in Australia became the central topic again and Kohli said he looked forward to the opportunity. “Leading in Australia will be a massive moment. I’m very excited. I’ve a lot of plans and the focus will be on how to win the match and not individual contributions.”

Uthappa to keep

Shifting the focus to the fourth One-day International, Kohli said that Rohit Sharma would open the innings, while Robin Uthappa would keep wickets. “Rohit doesn’t change his game much according to success and failure and that’s a positive. In fact, even after such an unfortunate injury in England (he broke his finger at Cardiff) he returns and scores a century against Sri Lanka in the warm-up game and that shows his skills. He brings a lot of positivity to the team. Most probably he will bat at where he did in the past and we are looking to give him as many overs as we can. If he gets going, he can be the X-factor.”

Kohli had words of encouragement for comeback man Uthappa as well. “Robin Uthappa will ‘keep. He has ‘kept in the IPL as well. He has been batting well too, so this is an opportunity for him to do well. Uthappa should be very handy for us in the future.”

Eyes fixed on the future, but India are not taking their immediate assignment lightly. Kohli said motivation wouldn’t be a factor as they’re keen to complete a 5-0 whitewash. “It’s all about getting into a good habit. And winning is a good habit.”

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