Would never ask players to do what I cannot – Kohli

Since taking over the reins as Test captain, Virat Kohli has consistently favoured a five-bowler strategy, signalling a result-orientated mindset and a willingness to place greater responsibility on the top five batsmen. On the first two days of the ongoing Antigua Test, Kohli showed what it meant to shoulder that responsibility by shoring up a line-up that had wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha listed at No. 6 with his maiden first-class double-hundred.

“Playing five batsmen is a bit of an added pressure on the batsmen but that is what we want to take up as a challenge,” Kohli told bcci.tv, after his 200 led India to 566 for 8 in the first innings against West Indies. “The batsmen decided to take up the responsibility. As captain, I would never ask the players to do what I cannot do myself first.”

On a sluggish pitch, the onus on the batsmen was not only to score, but to score fast enough to give the bowlers time to take 20 wickets. Kohli was the only one to take up this dual responsibility. He stayed in and scored big, while …

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