England Cricket announced Jos Buttler as their new Test vice-captain ahead of first Test against England on Tuesday.
England Cricket named Jos Buttler as their new Test vice-captain and they announced their playing XI as well on the eve of the first Test against India on Tuesday.
England’s playing XI vs India, 1st Test: Joe Root (c), Alastatir Cook, Jennings, David Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
While the hosts revealed their XI, Virat Kohli and India stuck to their tradition of not giving away their playing XI on the eve of the Test.
Kohli said a final call will be taken after the team management had a meeting later in the evening.
On Monday, Ajinkya Rahane had made it clear that Kuldeep Yadav was an X-factor for the team but the captain and coach would need to decide which of the three spinners got to play.
"It all boils down to your gut feel. If five people on the table agree, then there are no ifs and buts. If we take a decision, then there's no looking back. We do not hold on to any decisions we have made.
"In Test cricket, what matters is the balance of the side because the game is so long. We need to discuss what the best balance is," Kohli said.
In the same press conference, Kohli also said that he is not in the frame of mind to prove anything to anyone but just wants to take Indian cricket forward.
On his preparation for the tour, Kohli went on to say, “It boils down to belief. Even on a flat pitch in India, you might not believe and get out. I am pretty confident of my own capabilities"
When asked if India would start as underdogs in the five-Test series, Kohli responded, “You need professionalism more than feeling like an underdog or starting the series as favourites.”
"Back in the day when I did not know these things, they used to bother me. I genuinely do not read anything now," Kohli told the media in the press conference on Tuesday.
"I had no idea what was going on after the first two Tests in South Africa. When I walk out to bat, I have the the bat in hand. I have to be focused on what I need to do.
"I did not think I would be sitting here 10 years ago. Not in the frame of mind to prove anything to anybody," he added.
Kohli, has come a long way since the miserable tour in 2014 and on Tuesday he said belief was the key to doing well in tough conditions.
"You focus on what you need to do. You need to have total belief in your own ability. We need to keep working hard on that. It all boils down to belief. If you have belief, you can score hundreds on a green pitch as well. In the last three years, I have been pretty comfortable with my headspace," he said.
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