Mr. Virat Kohli, Member, Indian Cricket Team, addressed a press conference in Dubai after the team’s Super Fours match against Pakistan.
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00:00Virat, there has been a lot of talk about the brand of cricket that India wants to play, being ultra-aggressive.
00:06Do you think, how do you channelize it when you lay up a platform like we did today?
00:12Does that add more pressure to the middle-holders that they become more eager to perform or anything like that?
00:19No, not really. I mean, if you see the way we've been playing, it's given us the results we need and our middle-overs' run rate has also improved.
00:27Something that I personally, as a batsman, took really keen notice of.
00:34And I knew that that is one area we need to keep looking to improve on.
00:40But look, T20 and we have spoken about this, that sometimes it won't come off the way you want.
00:46And today we lost a few wickets in the middle phase, which kind of didn't allow us to go towards the 200 target.
00:53Because after Hooda and me, it was Bhuvi, so the bowlers were to follow. So that makes a bit of a difference.
01:00But yeah, we do possess the skills to analyze the situation and play accordingly as well.
01:06But given the situation, if we had a couple of wickets in hand, then we could have gotten more runs.
01:12So we are not disturbed by losing wickets through the middle-overs because that's the way we want to play.
01:20We want to be able to try to get those 20-25 extra runs so that can make the difference eventually in the big games that happen in the future.
01:40Well, I've never really paid attention to these things, to be honest. I mean, I've played for 14 years, it doesn't happen by chance.
01:49My job is to work hard on my game, something that I'm always keen to do, keen to improve my game for the team.
01:55And that's something that I'm going to continue to do so. So there's a lot of... I mean, look, everyone's doing their job eventually.
02:03Our job is to play the game, work hard, give our 120%. And I've said it in the past that as long as I'm doing that and the team has faith in that,
02:13what happens in the change room is the only thing that matters to us and to me as well personally.
02:17People have their opinions and that's absolutely fine, but that doesn't change my happiness as a person.
02:22So I've taken some time away, put things in perspective and it's given me kind of a relaxation that, you know, this is not be-all and end-all of life.
02:33I need to enjoy the game. I can't put so much pressure on myself of expectations and all those things that I'm not able to express myself.
02:41That is not why I started playing this game. So I was able to find that excitement back.
02:46And when I came here, the environment was very welcoming and the camaraderie with the boys is amazing.
02:51The environment in the team is amazing. So I'm absolutely loving playing at the moment all over again and feeling good with the way I'm batting.
03:01What do you think was the turning point that led to today's match?
03:07I think it was Mohammad Nawaz's innings. Those were game-changing innings.
03:12He took a chance by sending him up so that his batting gets a little longer.
03:17So that if the situation gets difficult later on, the batsmen can still be saved.
03:21So I think the way he batted was a game-changing moment, as per how I read the game.
03:28Because you expect an anchor innings from Rizwan or Babar that they will play long innings.
03:34But to play an impact innings like that and he ran 45 or 42.
03:41So if he had run 15 or 20, it would have been a different story.
03:44But he batted like that till 42. So I think that's when the pressure started to get created on us.
03:51So I think those were game-changing innings.
03:54Virat, you have batted both in the first half and the second half in this tournament.
03:59Is there a massive difference as a batsman? Do you feel that the ball is coming better in the second half?
04:04No, not necessarily. I mean, it depends on how the wicket is from the first ball, to be honest.
04:10There's no dew here. So the conditions are not drastically different.
04:14Again, it's a pressure game. Like I said, how Nawaz batted.
04:18If they did not have innings like that, even then the chase was tough in the end.
04:24It took a few good shots again to get them over the line.
04:27So I think you need to read the conditions well.
04:31And if the wicket is slow from the first ball, like it was in the last game when we played them,
04:36it was too paced. Then you can't really play in this way.
04:40But this wicket was much better. The last wicket was much better as well.
04:44I don't think conditions are that different while batting second or batting first.
04:47It's just a matter of who handles pressure better.
04:50Virat, Pakistan and India didn't have such close matches. Both were very close.
04:55Good for the audience, good for international cricket?
04:58Absolutely. I mean, they have a very good, balanced side. They have a very strong bowling attack.
05:03We know that when we played them last time as well, their bowling stood out.
05:08And this time as well, their bowling attack has been very, very potent.
05:13When there are two good, balanced teams, you always expect tough matches.
05:20We were prepared that their skill sets won't be that easy.
05:25If it's a pressure match, you'll win. You'll have to play good cricket.
05:30And today, like I said, they played better cricket than us at the right time.
05:36They deserve the result in the end because of the way, especially Nawaz batted in the middle overs.
05:42Yes, whenever you play Pakistan's games, their side is like that.
05:46You always expect a tough match.
05:49Virat, living on this side, you said along with coming that it's been a long time.
05:55And maybe that's the thing that in this 6-8 months with Virat Kohli,
05:59what we didn't know, a lot of people didn't know.
06:02You know, you said that these things don't matter.
06:05But you are also a human being. There are a lot of criticisms.
06:08Especially when I talked to people outside, I asked Viv Richards about Virat.
06:13He said, why do you say such things?
06:15All the greats I've spoken to, they say, why do you say such things?
06:19When Virat Kohli hears such things, what is his reaction?
06:22Who backed you during this time?
06:24How did you see your journey?
06:26I want to know after this.
06:31I can tell you one thing.
06:35When I left Test Captaincy,
06:37I got a message from only one person with whom I have played before.
06:41That is MS Dhoni.
06:43And a lot of people have my number.
06:45I mean, a lot of people give suggestions on TV.
06:49A lot of people have to speak on TV.
06:51But those who have my number, no one else has sent me a message.
06:54So one respect, one connection with someone,
06:59when it is genuine, it looks like this.
07:02Because there is security on both sides.
07:04Neither do they want anything from me, nor do I want anything from them.
07:06And neither was I insecure from them, nor were they insecure from me.
07:09That's all I can say.
07:11If I want to say something about someone, I reach out to them individually.
07:15Even if you want to help someone.
07:17I mean, if you give suggestions to the whole world,
07:20then its value is nothing for me.
07:22Because if it means something to me, for my improvement,
07:26then you can talk one on one.
07:28I genuinely want you to do good.
07:31I live my life with a lot of honesty.
07:34So I see these things.
07:36So I won't say that I don't care.
07:40But you see the truth.
07:42That's all I can say.
07:44When you play for so long, you play with honesty.
07:46God is the one who gives.
07:48I can't say anything more than that.
07:50Rest, you hit your hands and feet.
07:52When he has to give, he has to give.
07:54And no one can do anything about it.
07:56That's how I live my life.
07:58And as long as I'm playing,
08:00as long as I'm worthy of playing here,
08:02I'm going to play like this.
08:04There are a lot of talks about Arshdeep's catch.
08:07What will you say to such senior players?
08:10Will you talk to them?
08:12Because leaving a catch in such a pressure game,
08:14it won't be easy for them either.
08:16No, in pressure, anyone can make a mistake.
08:18And it's a big match.
08:20The situation was also a bit tight.
08:22I remember I played the Champions Trophy for the first time.
08:25It was my first match against Pakistan.
08:27I hit a very bad shot against Shahid Afridi.
08:29And I was looking at the ceiling
08:31till 5 in the morning.
08:33I couldn't sleep.
08:35I thought I would never get a chance again.
08:37My career is over.
08:39So all these things are natural to feel.
08:41But senior players come to you.
08:43Tomorrow we will be together as a team.
08:45When the atmosphere is good,
08:47then you learn from that.
08:49And next time if such an opportunity comes,
08:51then you look forward to
08:53what should I have again.
08:55So I think that credit,
08:57the team environment,
08:59I will give that credit to the management and the captain.
09:01They have created such an atmosphere
09:03that everyone feels that
09:05there is no problem.
09:07Next time it comes, we need that moment.
09:09So as I said, the atmosphere is good.
09:11You will make mistakes in that.
09:13You accept it, address it.
09:15And next time look forward
09:17that I have to come back in the same pressure situation.
09:25Do you have a good chance going into the World Cup?
09:55Yes, sir.
10:25We have seen some lovely images of you and Babar Assam.
10:27There seems to be a lot of mutual respect between the two of you.
10:31When you meet him, do you feel a sense of kinship almost?
10:33Because you guys are both considered
10:35amongst the best batters in the world.
10:37Perhaps there is one person who understands
10:39the pressure and expectation that you also face.
10:41Do you feel that when you see him?
10:43Babar is a very
10:45nice guy.
10:47I have always had good conversations with him.
10:49He is much junior to me.
10:51So kinship I am not sure of.
10:53But there is respect.
10:55There is always respect.
10:57He was always keen to learn.
10:59He spoke to me after our game in 2019 World Cup.
11:01A little bit about
11:03how to go about things.
11:05Always keen to learn.
11:07So it is no surprise that he is playing like this
11:09in all formats of the game.
11:11He is obviously a very talented player.
11:13It is always
11:15very nice meeting him.
11:17And all the other guys.
11:19They are all very sweet.
11:21They get along with us.
11:23They are very friendly with all of us.
11:25There is mutual respect
11:27between both the teams.
11:29I have certainly realized that from last year as well.
11:31We are a very competitive team
11:33but very respectful as well.
11:45It was a much better pitch
11:47from the last game.
11:49Again in these games as I said
11:51it is about who handles pressure better.
11:53Today Pakistan stepped up
11:55and in the crucial moments
11:57they played better than us.
11:59I hope the pitches remain like this
12:01and not become slower because
12:03in 2020 cricket you want to be able to
12:05have these kind of matches
12:07where both sides score runs
12:09and the bowling line-up that holds their composure
12:11eventually they win the game.
12:19Do you see yourself performing in the role of Sadamanac?
12:29Today I was kind of making
12:31a conscious effort to
12:33strike at a higher pace.
12:35When we lost wickets again
12:37there was communication and
12:39our plans changed where I had to
12:41bat till the 18th with Huta.
12:43If there were a couple of batters
12:45I would have gone with the same tempo
12:47with more boundaries or sixes.
12:49But again I ended up
12:51being in a situation where I had to
12:53go deep.
12:55I thought Harisrov
12:57bowled a great last over.
12:59He nailed those slower
13:01balls and yorkers.
13:03With that pace when you execute
13:05it is always difficult to get it away.
13:07But I am going to continue to bat
13:09like the way I did today.
13:11Try and take the game on and
13:13stay ahead of the asking rate
13:15understand the conditions
13:17and just bat freely.
13:19As long as I am in a good space
13:21and I am confident about my batting
13:23I know I can bat in many ways.
13:25It is just about getting back into the groove
13:27and getting more confident with how you are playing.
13:29Once that happens then the situation
13:31dictates how you need to play.
13:33Any other questions?
13:37You have played cricket for so many years
13:39have you ever thought
13:41that you won't even touch the bat for a month?
13:43And are you feeling
13:45a little relaxed
13:47after going far?
13:49Because the game is going on
13:51and the Eagles are coming
13:53what will you say
13:55to the other players?
13:57I never thought
13:59that I would not touch the bat
14:01for a month.
14:03But the situation became
14:05where it was important
14:07for me to take a break
14:09more mentally than physically.
14:11And then you
14:13realize when you bat
14:15after a month
14:17why you started playing.
14:19I think that thing gets lost
14:21in your identity
14:23or the way people look at you
14:25when you come on the ground
14:27everyone is shouting your name
14:29and the passion for the game
14:31the purity
14:33why you started playing
14:35that joy goes somewhere.
14:37So it was very important for me to find that
14:39because when I am happy in my space
14:41I know what I can do for the team.
14:43And
14:45being in a bad space
14:47is neither good for the team nor for me.
14:49I think
14:51no one should run away from this.
14:53If someone
14:55is feeling negative
14:57or down
14:59then taking a break is not a bad thing.
15:01And
15:03I hope that people get strength
15:05from this and
15:07they can address their feelings.
15:09We are all humans
15:11and we can all feel this way.
15:13But it is very important to recognize
15:15and care for that.
15:17If you ignore it, you will get frustrated.
15:19I realized this thing
15:21which helped me a lot.
15:23I am happy, I am excited
15:25and I am enjoying playing cricket again
15:27which was the most important thing for me from day one.