I know I have the ability to get big hundreds: Virat Kohli

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli scored his maiden double century on day two of the first Test against the West Indies at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. He also became the first Indian skipper to hit a Test double ton outside the sub-continent. Virat’s knock and his partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin ensured India posted a huge total in the first innings.

Following his knock Virat said that he was “extremely satisfied” to do well in the West Indies coming back after he didn’t have a memorable debut here.

“Yes, it is a very good feeling. I made my debut here and it wasn’t a memorable series for me. Coming back here and getting a double hundred gives me a lot of satisfaction purely because of the fact that I have missed a couple of big scores in the past,” Kohli, was quoted by bcci.tv on Friday saying.

“I know I have the ability to get big hundreds. This is my first double hundred in first-class matches in general, so this is something I always wanted to do and I am feeling really grateful that I was able to cross the mark.”

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“It is just a very good feeling. Test cricket is the most important format as far as I am concerned and the whole of team is concerned, so when you do well in Test cricket, it gives you the job satisfaction like nothing else. I am really happy for this moment,” he added.

The Indian team opted for a more aggressive approach and thus fielded 5 bowlers which meant they were one batsman short. Kohli said he took the additional responsibility.

“It is very important to understand the responsibility in front of you when you go in with a combination. Playing five batsmen is a bit of an added pressure on the batsman but that is what we want to take up as a challenge.”

“The batsmen decided to take up the responsibility. As captain, I would never ask the players to do what I cannot do myself first and I have always believed in that.”

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“I backed myself to be positive, backed myself to score quickly because I knew if we had to bowl the opposition out, we need enough time for the bowlers; to be fresh again and also have breaks in between. This was one innings that came together very nicely,” he said.

The skipper sounded pleased of his team’s batting effort and said, “All in all, it was a very good batting effort by everyone and something that we can be proud of. It is a bit of an added pressure (on the batsmen) but something that is what you want at this level of cricket,” he added.

He also said that he feels more pressure when in the dressing room and is rather relaxed when out in the middle batting.

“I think what a lot of people don’t understand is that there is more pressure when you’re not batting. When you are in the change room, you’re interacting with people, you get to know what people are saying and what people close to you expect from you.”

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“I think those are the things that give pressure. When I go out to bat, I am all by myself and my batting partner. People don’t understand that I am actually at a lot of peace when I am batting alone out there because I don’t have to interact with too many people and don’t have to listen to their expectations or know what they require of me.”

“I can literally reflect on myself, understand what my thoughts and mood are and then work on those things. That is why I always prefer being out there in the middle than getting to know these things from people,” he revealed.