Virat Kohli is all praise for Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh

“It is an exciting challenge to start together as a new unit”.

There is a widely-held perception that India and Sri Lanka have met too often in recent times. “I am very confident of the whole team, and hopefully I can do the job I have been given by BCCI and (justify) the faith that has been shown by them over all these years”.

“What I do personnaly in my cricket is that I remain pretty consistent beause that is the way I have always played my cricket”. “I don’t think we need to make this more important. I think that is one of the major reasons that the board thought that I could be the man to take up responsibility for the team”, Kohli said.

Kohli said he always give 100% effort on the field and putting extra yards in batting is not required at the moment.

Talking about the tour of Sri Lanka, Kohli said that he is very excited for his first “full” assignment as India’s Test captain. Harbhajan has been a match-winner for India in Test matches and also in one-day cricket. We have had a decent break, while I had a three-week off.

“Whatever ideas we come up with we have a lot of time to execute those plans and judge ourselves on those three Tests”.

During his short stint with India A, Kohli shared the dressing room with Rahul Dravid, the former India captain who was recently appointed coach of the side. “It’s always nice to be around great players like Rahul Dravid because it’s just the presence of these players, which is so calming and so reassuring”. The beauty of this game is that it allows different people to succeed.

“And even if you don’t want to speak about the game, just having them around makes you feel good about your own cricket. I am sure he will be match-fit, in fact before the warm-up game that we play”, Kohli added. He is a very nice and genuine person.

When asked about what made him to take part for India A in an unofficial Test match against Australia A, Kohli said that he wanted get in some sort of practice ahead of the tour. Indians are getting ready to host three Tests in Sri Lanka from August 12th, 2015 to September 1st, 2015.

“In the previous games that I saw, it was helpful for the spinners in one game, and then the wicket was seaming in the other”. “I think not just the spinners, but the fast bowlers will also play a massive role in Sri Lanka“. Everyone has a few hiccups in their career. He has been very solid for us in Tests after (the departure of) (Virender) Sehwag and (Gautam) Gambhir. “Once he settles down in that spot, he will be the catalyst that we need in the middle-order who can keep the scoring rate going”. “I am not really anxious about that”, said the skipper.

“In Test matches, he has been a very solid opener for us”. As far as I know, Vijay is nearly hundred percent straightaway. “Both these guys are very vital for the team”. “I think these approach will make things relatively easier for them to understand and focus on one particular thing at a time”, said Kohli.

“We have lot of experience with the spin department”.

Also drawing praise from Kohli were young batsman Ajinkya Rahane and senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has come back after being sidelined for more than two years. “He is bowling really well for the last one year or so and that is the reason why we wanted him in the team as well”, he said. I think this is the good problem we have in our side. He needs a bit of confidence.