Virat Kohli, the Indian test captain continued his phenomenal run of form in the recently concluded tour Down Under. The flamboyant batsman was adjudged Player of the series, where India clean swept Australia in a three-match T20 series.
Kohli started from where he left last summer in Australia in Test series. In the entire tour, the Delhi-born batsman ended with 586 runs including two hundred and five fifties in just eight innings.
However, it wasn’t an easy start for the Indian star, with fierce rivals and hostile away fans. However, on January 31, the swashbuckling batsman said that now he is in love with Australia. And it’s not for just being a happy hunting ground for him but also for the respect and admiration he is getting from both the rival players and the initially hostile fans.
Kohli posted his picture with Player of the series trophy on Facebook,
Australia gives me the sense of normalcy: Kohli
The stylish right-handed batsman, who scored 199 runs in the three T20 internationals, said being in Australia gives him the sense of normalcy which is hard to come given his star status in India.
After India’s thrilling last ball wins at SCG on January 31, the 27-year-old said, "I love coming to this country, it has a really positive vibe. Most importantly, I can be myself here. I can be normal, I can walk around on the streets. That's something that I really love to do to discover myself rather than staying in a world which is sometimes full of highs and sometimes full of lows".
People in Australia appreciate the cricket that we have played: Kohli
He added, "Sometimes you need to get away from the game and realise who you are, know yourself and understand your mood. I get to do that in Australia, people appreciate the cricket that we have played".
Kohli revealed that his love affair with the country did not exactly start in a positive manner. During the 2011-12 tour he had infamously shown his middle finger to a hostile crowd but things seem to have changed with the fans cheering him vigorously during the recently-concluded series.
The Indian vice-captain said, "They give you respect but they don't intrude on your private space. That's something that I adore about this country. It was tough early on when I came here. I have had confrontations but it has led to mutual respect".
Kohli also talked about keeping the scoreboard ticking and Yuvraj Singh’s return
Talking about his game plan, Kohli said that he focused on ensuring that dot ball count remains as low as possible and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
He said, "I have been hitting the ball decently on this tour. In T20 cricket, one ball is an event and it is very important to capitalise on that. So, if you have a bunch of dot balls, it can turn the game around so I try and avoid those pressure situations. I make a conscious effort to keep the strike rotating”.
He added, "I keep thinking about putting the bowler under pressure before he can get on top of me. After that, I can play to my strengths. I stick to the basics and improvise according to the situation".
On the much anticipated “comeback” performance of Yuvraj Singh, he said, "Yuvi got very few balls but when it mattered he made it count. That's how we need him, we need him confident because then we are in safe hands".
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