India leadership a work in progress

HYDERABAD: By Virat Kohli’s own admission, this home season has been a learning experience. Before the start of the one-off Test match against Bangladesh, he had said that the series against England showed India how to be patient whenever wickets don’t fall or things don’t move according to plan.

Although the Bangladesh match was barely a test, there were phases when there was a need to get things moving. The story was similar in the England series as well.

“Sometimes I stand on the field and think the wicket is not falling, you literally cannot do anything as a captain. You just have to accept the game is going on, probably look to be more consistent with the ball and the fields you set,” Kohli said.

That is perhaps the toughest

You can’t do anything. You have to accept the game is going on, probably look to be more consistent with the ball If wicket don’t come Earlier, I would be a bit relentless with fields but now, I understand, when a pair is going for runs, I go for inout fields On lessons learnt as captain

job for a captain. Kohli says he keeps everyone energised and going.

“To be very honest, anyone knows how to set fields in the ground, its just that you know, make sure you have the responsibility of keeping the energy of the team up,” said the Indian skipper. “I look to push myself throw myself, so guys know that they have to push for a wicket. Especially the fielders inside the ring, the bowlers know what they need to do but the fielders within the ring need to support the bowlers. I need to do that first, for the guys to show that energy.”

Australia , who will play a four-match Test series in February-March, will be facing a seasoned skipper. “Earlier, I would be a bit relentless with fields but now, I understand, when a pair is going for runs, I immediately go for in-out fields, no point giving them 4-5 boundaries,” he said.