India captain Virat Kohli discussed how he has seen his constant evolution as a cricketer with every tour down under, saying he has experienced various phases of his international career unfold in front of him while frequently visiting Australia.
Kohli has repeatedly travelled down under since his first trip in 2011-12 when in a difficult series he emerged from controversies to end as India's most promising young batting talent. He now returns to the great sporting land with an immaculate body of work behind him across formats.
"I have come here through different stages of my career and life," Kohli told the media in an online press conference before the first ODI on Friday (November 27). "Starting with 2012, it was an opportunity and start to my international career as a Test player and something that I fondly remember. I was a youngster with a lot of hope and faith playing for the country to play for a long time."
"Then the second time I came around was a difficult situation as I had come out of that 2014 tour of England and Australia was again a daunting tour full of quality players and coming up against a very strong team. That tour revealed a lot about myself as a person and about my game to me and took my confidence to the next level."
"Coming back in 2018, we came for the 2016 white-ball series as well, but that was a short trip. Then again a full tour in 2018 which was very memorable for all of us, winning for the first time a Test series in Australia, winning the ODI series and drawing the T20I series was also very special because as a captain and as a team we were able to achieve our goals in a very difficult place."
"Now coming to 2020, it is about just fulfilling my responsibility on the field. I really take a lot of pride in playing cricket for my country, I have over the years as well and this is just a continuation of the same mindset."
"I don't come to any place anymore to prove anything to anyone. It is basically about what I can do as a captain and a leader I take the team forward in the right direction and keep setting the right examples as an individual as well when I can," he added.
"Growth is the only focus whether it is on the field or off the field and that will continue to be the template for me going forward. It has been amazing and a full roller coaster of a journey till now coming to Australia and something that I have really enjoyed and looking forward to it this time as well."
The SCG ODI witnesses the return of crowds to an Australian ground after the last summer. Kohli was eager to play with fans cheering from the stands again.
"It is a great opportunity, I think everyone is really excited to start playing in front of crowds. It has been something that has been missing since we came back to action. We also understand we came back to action after a very difficult period and things are obviously still getting better as we speak."
"Situation in Australia is at a place where we are able to play in front of the crowd again which is a big boost and something that I have enjoyed over the years. Playing without crowds was a different experience and you get back to professionalism."
"Playing in front of the crowd is something that cannot be replicated otherwise and something that as sports people we all look forward to. So, we are very excited to get back to stadiums full of noise and fans."
A batsman who thrives under pressure, Kohli also spoke of how Australia becomes a more comforting place to tour once a player gains in respect of the local cricket fraternity.
"Playing cricket is Australia is one that comes with its own challenges. I think it can be a very intimidating place if you are not ready to take on a challenge mentally and with your skills. It is a place I have loved coming to over the years. One thing about Australia is that they play hard cricket and in every sport they are very tough. The crowd can be very tough on players travelling and rightly so."
"Everyone has a choice to have a home advantage and Australia really exercises and executes that well. But if you perform well in Australia, you gain a lot of respect from the local public and the fans watching which as a sportsperson I certainly am a big fan of because it is like a test."
"You go through the hard test and then there is appreciation and acknowledgment at the end of it. Then over a period of time you understand that people here are very nice and welcoming as well."
"If you have the right mindset they will make sure to do everything to get you. If you can overcome that, there is nothing but respect which has been a beautiful part of coming to Australia over the years and something that all of us now have started to enjoy," he signed off.
(With ANI inputs)
