India v/s New Zealand: Jadeja shouldn't change his way of playing cricket, says Kohli

The routines that the teams go through as preparation for a Test match generally give an indication as to the likely playing 11 for the game starting the next day. The order in which batsmen bat in the nets, and it is usually the openers opening the net session too, followed by the batsmen in batting order and finally the bowlers, if there is enough time.

But it is not always a giveaway as to the things that will unfold in a Test. Take for example Friday's India's net session, their only full-fledged one since the first Test. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha padded up to bat first in the two adjacent nets ahead of the frontline batsmen.

And, the recalled Gautam Gambhir was the last of the specialist batsmen to pad up, some 90 minutes after the nets began. And in between, the India Test line-up in batting order had satisfactory practice against bowlers and also facing throw-downs from batting coach Sanjay Bangar at a separate net adjacent to the centre pitch.

Does Gambhir batting last indicate that the struggling Shikhar Dhawan will get one more chance to resurrect his Test career ahead of his senior Delhi teammate?

Virat Kohli put into perspective how the net session normally functions. Speaking on the eve of the second Test against New Zealand here on Thursday, the Test captain said: "Well, we basically do the segregation of the batsmen in the nets depending on who has had a hit at what stage. So, it all depends on who has had batting practice the previous day or who hasn't. Or, preferably who is going to play. Initially who is going to start.

"The day before the game, we definitely look to do that with the batting order. It can differ from player to player. Sometimes a player doesn't want to bat in the nets. He just wants throw-downs and then walk away. You won't see him entering the nets, that doesn't mean he won't play. The day before the Test, we look to bat in the batting order, how we would bat (in the Test). At the same time, if someone wants to pull out, that doesn't mean he won't play.

It's just the preparation preference that an individual has before a game." So, Gambhir batting in the end does not necessarily rule him out of contention from the 11 on Friday. Nor is Dhawan batting on both Wednesday and Thursday assured of a playing 11. It is all about having "all the bases covered as far as the team is concerned," as Kohli said.

But one player who is a certainty in the 11, come what may, is Ravindra Jadeja, who has reinvented himself as a Test player in the last one year, especially with one five-wicket haul too many in successive innings in Ranji Trophy at the start of last season. Besides, he has also made useful runs for the team's cause. Jadeja was man of the match in the Kanpur Test for his scores of 42* & 50* besides 5/73 and 1/58. The confidence of his wicket-taking abilities rubbing in his batting in Tests too.

Kohli was particularly pleased with his trusted soldier from Saurashtra. "He used to think too much about Test cricket being too difficult and him having to play differently. I think there are different ways of playing and he certainly has a different way of playing cricket which we feel he shouldn't change.

"Obviously, he will gain experience and we come to a situation where we have to play out a session to save a Test match, he will gain that skill as well. I think he needs to get confident and that can only happen by scoring more runs.

"The other skills will keep adding on at this level. He's feeling more confident about himself, about his contribution. There's an assurance from the team management to make him feel confident about his batting."

KOHLI-SPEAK:

On New Zealand's change in approach, if any…

A good ball is a good ball to any batsman on any pitch. Our focus will be to execute our skills as well we can. It's also about the batsmen on how they play. In the first game they had some good partnerships and you just have to sit back and appreciate that. We have come with a plan. I think Test cricket is all about coming back from situations rather than being on top all the time. We expect them to play really good cricket but we expect to bounce back and pull things back if things go their way. We're not pre-planning for any approach. We feel that we are skilled enough to tackle any plans they come with. If we are pre-planned then it's difficult to switch back to other things. If we go with a clear head, then it's easy to adapt to situation put forth in front of us.

On likely Test No. 1 if India win Kolkata Test…

I don't get motivated by records. If you notice the cricket we played two years ago in Tests and now, it's easy to get carried by these records. You'll end up focussing on the process. Similarly in batting, when you start your career and set a target that 'in the first seven years I'm going to score these may runs', then you may end up losing focus on the process after you reach the target. Personally, I don't think about these things. My goal is to play cricket at a certain level and maintain it. No. 1 doesn't matter for us because they are temporary. A lot of competitive are playing and things could change after a series. If you get attached to these things, then you get upset if you are not able to do it. It's better to observe from far on things that are not directly in our control.

On practicing with rubber ball…

That was because we play three formats and we sometimes do tend to bat in a flow. It is very important to work on skills that bring stability as well, which you already have but it is about repeating those things. It was all about wanting to control the ball that is bouncing and not coming at pace.

On his own form…

I don't really think about these things. Because, cricket is a game where you prepare well but the result cannot be in your hand all the time. Especially batting where you have only one chance. If you get caught off a no-ball, it is different. Generally, cricket is a game of chances, but preparation is in my hand. I look to that 100% every time I walk on to practice. I don't think there is anything called form. It's how you feel on a particular day. It Even if you are scoring runs every game, suddenly you don't feel good one game and get out. That doesn't mean you are out of form. It doesn't mean you come back into form suddenly just because you are playing well one day. It's just about how good you are feeling mentally. That's all we as cricketers look to achieve.

On Eden Gardens pitch and likely XI…

Combinations, obviously I can't speak about yet. The pitch looks good. As a home side, if we feel we are able to put big runs on the board, that obviously puts pressure on the opposition. Regardless of the wicket we are playing on. I felt that even in the last game we had a chance of getting 400-plus, but we didn't capitalise. So those are the things we want to correct. Once you have a big score on the board, the opposition feels they have to work that extra bit or bat a session and a half more than they would like to. That gives you an advantage in the game. The wicket is what we see in Calcutta more often. It's generally a very good batting wicket.