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Johannesburg, January 23: Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith raised doubts over Virat Kohli's credibility as a captain but the India cricket skipper said he's learning and improving daily as the leader of the pack.
"Well, every game is a learning experience whether you win or lose. The only thing that you learn is, you can go out and try to do things that have happened in the past, try and not make those errors. That's how you progress and determined at this level. So, it's nothing different. I am learning everyday, it's not like you stop learning at any stage; when you win you learn as well. So, we are trying to rectify those mistakes and keep the positives in our head at the same time," Kohli said on the eve of the third Test against South Africa at the Wanderers.
Probable XI" title="Preview
"As a captain as well, you want to proudly do better in situations when the game has gone away from you at times. So, I have thought about those things as well - how you can still keep the pressure on and not let the game slip away in very quick time. I always keep thinking about my game, how I can learn as a captain and get better in every aspect of what I do. I never stop learning," Kohli added.
Unlike coach Ravi Shastri, Kohli feels the preparations for the South Africa tour have been satisfactory. India have already lost the series 0-2 against the Proteas and seek redemption at Wanderers.
Nets done and all set for the final Test at Wanderers #TeamIndia #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/kbX6zLamVp
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 23, 2018
"I personally don't feel that we didn't feel prepared starting this series, I won't sit here and point that out after losing a Test series. We had a week to prepare ourselves, five days because one day we were travelling. So we had that and we went ahead with that. As I said, we are not going to sit and think of outside factors that made us lose. It was our errors, our mistakes of not capitalising on situations that led us to the result being 2-0 so far. I am not pinpointing anything else, I think those talks are left for later planning for future," Kohli said.
WHACK! Out of the ground this one from @ImRo45 #TeamIndia #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/Bk3euApHG9
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 22, 2018
Meanwhile, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said his team has managed to outperform the famed Indian batting line-up in the ongoing Test series, which has proved to be the difference between the two sides in the opening two matches
While two of the three highest individual scores in the series have been scored by Indian batsmen, the Proteas have nevertheless still outbatted the tourists
Virat Kohli's 153 in Centurion and Hardik Pandya's 93 at Cape Town both have come in virtual isolation as they got very little support from other batsmen
In contrast, South Africa have managed to build important partnerships -- Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers putting on 114 runs for the fourth wicket in the first innings in Cape Town, and then De Villiers and Dean Elgar stitching 141 for the third wicket in the second innings at Centurion -- which eventually made the difference.
Ahead of the next Test match against India, why not hear directly from Proteas captain Faf du Plessis on the pages of our Digital Publication...
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 22, 2018
LINK: https://t.co/mphMsw8vqi pic.twitter.com/sy2W350Rs2
"The difference between India and us is that there are more batsmen contributing to partnerships," Du Plessis said.
"So that's going to be once again very much a key factor in conditions like that. As a batsman, if you do get in, you try and string together a nice partnership," he added.
The Indian bowlers have managed to rise to the occasion picking up 20 wickets in both the Tests but it is the batting failure that has let the team down. South Africa won the first Test in Cape Town by 72 runs and the second Test in Centurion by 135 runs.
"Both teams have been taking 20 wickets, and I assume that that will happen again. We've got a strong bowling attack in conditions that will suit them. The onus will be on the partnerships in the batting department," Du Plessis stressed.
The series might be firmly in their pocket, but the South Africa captain expects India to come hard in the final Test.
"I think once again, India will come back with a point to prove. They are a proud team they wouldn't want to go down 3-0 so we're expecting once again a good challenge from them.
"For us as a team, it's pretty simple. Just keep doing the things that we've been doing right through the series and do it well," Du Plessis said.
The Indian team management have received a lot of flak for their selection policy in the first two Tests and Du Plessis said he too was "surprised" by the frequent tinkering with the playing XI under Kohli.
Under Kohli's leadership so far, India has never played the same playing XI in a Test match.
"That was surprising actually for me. I didn't know that statistic. When you don't follow a team closely you don't really have an eye on it all the time. But I read something that they've changed their team every single time (in last 34 Tests) and that's remarkable," Du Plessis said.
"I don't see how we will ever be able to do that. We try to have a bit of consistency and string together a team. It's obviously worked for India in India. In terms of the opposition, it doesn't make a difference. You plan for everyone, prepare for everyone and whoever plays, it's not like it surprises us," he added.
Du Plessis said if opportunity comes they would like to take the game away from India in the third Test.
"It was just the nature of the wicket at Newlands. You were always in the game. Even in that first innings, we had them under real pressure and Hardik Pandya played a great knock. We had ourselves to blame because we had two chances. I would hope that if we get the opportunity to put them to bed, we will do it a little bit sooner," he said.
Du Plessis said the Proteas would look to exploit India's inept batting line-up again at the Wanderers.
"For me, it will be about keeping their batsmen under pressure. It's been a pretty quiet series for most of them, and if we can keep doing that, we will (win).
"They are a team that's under pressure being 2-0 down in the series. The way that you start is really important. If they have a good start with the bat or ball, that's when you can put a team down," he said.
Du Plessis hinted that they might go with an all-rounder instead of a spinner on Wednesday. He confirmed that opener Aiden Markram is completely fit, but also suggested that out of form Quinton de Kock retained the team?s confidence to bat at No.6 should they play five bowlers.
