Their personalities may be different, but their on-field attitude has largely been similar. India Head Coach Anil Kumble was the first one to approach the skipper and ask for an over whenever a partnership began to mount. Aggressive with the ball, the former spinner ran through the opposition each time a small window opened. India’s dynamic Test captain, Virat Kohli wears aggression on his sleeve and always believes in challenging his opponents. His positive approach in Test cricket has won many admirers and Kumble has backed his young leader to carry on with his positive intent. “I love his aggression. I was also aggressive,” said Kumble at the pre-departure conference in Bengaluru on Monday.
“We are very different in terms of how we probably came across on the field. I'll be the last person to curb someone's natural instincts, but of course we all know how important it is to be the ambassadors of India and be a part of the Indian cricket team. That everybody in the team understands. We will ensure that there is a thin line and that everybody knows that. I won't certainly curb anyone's instincts.”
Kohli, who also addressed the media reiterated his leadership goal. “Like Anil bhai said, whenever you go into a Test match or a one-day match or a T20 match, your first intention is to win. Our intention will always be to go for a win. There have been situations in the middle where we have also lost but we know that we must play positive cricket so that we can get into a position where we can win and we can also lose.”
In the 2014-15 Border Gavaskar Trophy held in Australia, India’s positive approach was on display. Under Kohli, India came close to winning the opening Test, but lost. Needing 159 to get in the final session on Day Five, India fell short by 48 runs. In the second Test, led by MS Dhoni, India were again positive and claimed six Australian wickets before the hosts chased down a 128-run target. Kohli did not hesitate in admitting that there were moments in the past where India slipped. “We lost because of our mistakes. We must realize that we have got into that position playing good cricket 80 per cent of the time. We must focus on the mistakes we made in that 20 per cent and not change the remaining 80 per cent.”
The captain said that it is here that Kumble’s guidance will make a difference. “To have that mindset is very important and Anil bhai’s arrival has given that a bigger boost because his mindset was also the same – that we can win a match from any situation.
“Mindset creates a big difference, how you think about a situation. And obviously, unless you try it out, you won’t know what your ability is to win from any situation. If you are afraid and hesitant about losing, you won’t be able to try things out and you won’t know how much your ability is.”
He added that having a legend like Kumble was a big plus. “For me, it doesn’t matter where the coach is from. What matters is how he treats the players, how he makes them feel comfortable and how much he can provide to the players. These are the three factors that you look for if you are assigning a head coach. That’s what I believe in. And Anil bhai obviously has all three in abundance. He understands all the players.
Obviously there is huge respect for him because of what he has done for the country and because of him being Test captain for the nation. We have all looked up to him, so there’s always that respect. He understands that, and he makes everyone feel comfortable. I think there, the combination has settled in beautifully.”
With the week-long camp coming to an end, Kohli said the boys benefitted a lot before the tour of West Indies. “We worked on our skills in the nets for four days, and also had two days of match simulation. We had some very realistic practice sessions. Obviously, having the experience of Anil bhai is a huge boost for team. The bowlers have a strong support system because they have a coach who has faced those sorts of situations and won matches for the team. As batsmen, we are taking on our responsibilities. We have worked hard on different aspects - playing reverse swing and spin.”
