KOLKATA: India want underdogs Sri Lanka to force them into an “uncomfortable” zone in their latest Test series starting on Thursday, captain Virat Kohli said.
Kohli said his world number one Test side have to use the series to toughen up ahead of their visit to South Africa in January and England later in 2018.
“If you can embrace playing in difficult conditions that will be the difference,” Kohli told reporters.
“We want to be uncomfortable, we want to embrace being uncomfortable and that’s the most important thing.
“We want to build our games in such a way that we want to look forward to playing anywhere in the world.”
India are unbeaten in a home series in any format since being defeated by South Africa in a one-day challenge in 2015. Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test on Indian soil, but they head for the opener in Kolkata with renewed hopes after winning two Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last month.
Kohli acknowledged the risk of overkill. “It definitely has to be taken into consideration because you don’t want fans going away from the game,” he said.
“We have to maintain a balance of how to engage fans and keep players fresh at the same time and keep cricket exciting and keep it competitive through out the year. That point will be discussed in future definitely.”
Kohli said India “have to be at our absolute top intensity all the time”.
Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal confirmed meanwhile that veteran Angelo Mathews will bat at the key number four position, but will not bowl as he recovers from injury.
“He gives us confidence as a batting unit,” said Chandimal. “He will bat at number four. He has all the experience, and at the top of the order, and we will get maximum out of it.”
The second Test begins on November 24 in Nagpur with the final match in Delhi from December 2. The two sides will also play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches. — AFP
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
