Kohli insists India performing well more important than him getting runs

Having won the curtain-raiser match of the current series against India at Galle, the second Test starting at the P Sara Oval on Thursday is one game the Lankans cannot afford to lose.

Sri Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews stated on Wednesday that the second check match towards India will be an emotional one for the workforce, as batting nice Kumar Sangakkara will convey the curtain down on an illustrious 15-yr profession. The sound of electric drills and shrill voices competed for cacophonous attention even as a harsh, unrelenting sun bore down remorselessly.

Sri Lanka will have a lot of mixed emotions tomorrow when they take on India in Colombo.

While elaborating on Kohli’s aggressive ways as captain, Mishra also stated that the 26-year-old was extremely supportive to the players. Two bad sessions handed them a devastating defeat and thus, all eyes would be on what techniques Kohli employs to overpower Sri Lanka. The result, as much as the manner in which it was achieved, will have lifted Sri Lankan spirits no end.

Mishra, 32, who has been recalled to the side after three years insists the first Test setback has not affected the team morale and they are all up for a fight in Colombo.

The loss of in-form Shikhar Dhawan, who suffered a hairline fracture during the first Test has hit India hard and Murali Vijay’s inclusion in the playing eleven depends on his fitness, which will be assessed only on the eve of the Test. But in the Galle Test, the fifth bowler was used more as a fallback option to rotate the primary four bowlers.

Sri Lanka made an emphatic comeback in the first Test, which India dominated for almost three days, thanks to career-best performances by batsman Dinesh Chandimal (162*) and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (7 for 48).

This enforced change apart, India are certain to make another tactical change.

Where is the team going wrong?

The Indian skipper also threw his weight behind Binny whose inclusion might come at the expense of veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. A stylish batsman, astute leader and above all a genuine team player Sanga, as he is fondly called, emerged as one of the modern greats of the game. If the wicket is a bit helpful or you need control through the innings, Stuart comes handy in those situations.

The runs then started to flow as Kohli scored a classy 79 against West Indies in Johannesburg.

“I think Dhoni has come a long way by the way he led the Indian team”.

Sri Lanka will welcome back their own express bowler in Dushmantha Chameera, the wiry young man who is now fit again.

India would be itching to put the disaster at Galle behind and start afresh. Just as winning is a habit, so is losing. And there is a massive learning in that.

He added that all the mistakes that the team committed in the first Test will be worked on and improved because they’re “playing Test Cricket after a lengthy gap”. Virat Kohli’s inconsistency has been one of the prime reason why the batting has wobbled with the likes of Rohit Sharma too failing to prove his worth.