Team India skipper Virat Kohli suggested some changes in the playing XI for the fourth Test, however, maintained that team's balance will not change.
While social media was abuzz with the changes in the playing XI for the Indian team for the fourth Test after their heavy loss against England at Headingley, skipper Virat Kohli too hinted at changes in the line-up, however, not because of the form of the players or performance but changes in the fast bowling group as part of managing their workload.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Kohli said that you can't expect the players, especially fast bowlers to play four Tests in a row, saying that the shuffle is bound to happen.
"That's bound to happen. It is a logical and sensible thing to do. You obviously don't want to push individuals to a point where they break down. That conversation is very important. Very sensible and logical one at that as well.
"We will have that conversation with individuals and see who is placed where physically and who needs to have a game off. You can't expect with a short turnaround like this for guys to play four Tests in a row. So, we will have to assess who are the guys who will be given that many days to recover and be okay for the fourth one," Kohli said.
However, the skipper maintained that they were not going to tinker with the balance of the side saying that he doesn't believe in the balance of six specialist batters in addition to the wicket-keeper and four bowlers.
"I don't believe in that balance. I have never believed in that balance. Because either you can try to save a defeat or try to win the game. We have drawn games in the past with similar number of batters in the team. So, if your top six or seven don't do the job, that extra batter is no guarantee of bailing you out every time.
"You have to accept that as a team you take responsibility and pride in doing the job for the team. If you don't have the ability or the resources of taking 20 wickets going into a Test, then you are only playing for two results. And that's not how we play," he further added.
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