People want us to believe it is a massive loss and keep us in a bad space: Virat Kohli

New Zealand thumped India by 10 wickets on the fourth morning of the Wellington Test to go 1-0 up in the two-match series. The visitors didn’t seem to be up for the task as the Kiwi bowling attack, without Neil Wagner, proved to be too good for them. This was also India’s first loss in the format since the World Test Championship and the skipper Virat Kohli is not fussed about the hammering.

Though he admitted that the team wasn’t up to the mark to compete against New Zealand in the series opener, Kohli was keen on making a comeback in the series in the next Test. However, for that to happen, he felt the team should block all the outside noise. The 31-year-old is aware of what went wrong in this Test and believed that the side will work on its shortcomings ahead of the second and final game of the series.

“1st things 1st, block all the noise from the outside. I think people want us to think that this is a massive loss and you try and make too much out of it so that we don’t quite go in with a clear mindset. People will try and get into your head, understanding you’re a top-quality side and you can beat any side anywhere.

“Keeping us mentally in a bad space would help but we have never been a side which pays attention to outside noise. We will continue to do that. We have to accept and understand that playing sport at the international level, wins and losses are part of it. But it’s what we learn out of it and the way we play. We have taken a lot of pride in that,” Kohli said in the post-match press conference.

Kohli clears India will come out all guns blazing to win the second Test

Virat Kohli, however, ensured that the team will not leave any stone unturned in trying to win the second Test in order to level the series. “There is no doubt we will try and win the next Test, we are not going to play in any other fashion and whatever it requires as a batting unit, bowling and fielding unit, we are going to come out and do that. We are not bothered about another loss, but we are not going to take a backward step,” he further added.

The second Test and the final game of India’s long New Zealand tour will begin on February 29 and the tourists will be keen on levelling the series and returning home with a win.