'We want to give Rishabh Pant all the space' - Virat Kohli backs the keeper despite dismal run in England

Indian captain Virat Kohli has shown faith in Rishabh Pant and has expressed that the team management is ready to give as much space to Rishabh Pant as he wants. After the loss in the third Test against England in Leeds, there have been some questions raised at the batting unit, especially the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant. 

However, the Indian captain came out at the virtual press conference after the match in support of his unit. India was bowled out for 78 runs in the first innings. In the second innings as well, the visitors arrived on day four with a score of 215 for 2 but ended up losing their last eight wickets for just 63 runs. 

Despite the two collapses like this, Kohli seems to suggest that the management is not too worried and won’t go overanalyzing the situation. He made a point saying that the team might lose this match but there aren’t too many of these situations occurring in every game for the team to be really concerned about this. 

We analyze in terms of what situations we are putting ourselves in, not with numbers: Virat Kohli

There was a concern regarding India’s no. 3 Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting form as well ahead of the second innings. But, he made 91 runs, to make a point and Kohli was quick to highlight that during the press conference. Kohli made it clear that the team management knew it was a matter of time when Pujara would come back in form. As far as Pant is concerned, the wicketkeeper-batsman has made only 90 runs in five innings in this series so far and his form has been one of the talking points. But, Kohli made a point to defend the youngster. 

“Similar conversations were being initiated about (Cheteshwar) Pujara as well, which seemed to have disappeared after yesterday, so we want to give, as I said in the past, Rishabh all the space to play his game and understand situations and take responsibility like it is expected of everyone else in the batting order,” said Kohli and was quoted by The Times of India. 

The skipper further went on to say that the management doesn’t always consider the numbers to understand the game or someone’s form. “So we analyze ourselves as a team in terms of what situations we are putting ourselves in, not with numbers, that all happens on the outside. So, whether we are helping the team to build partnerships and are we putting the team in good positions, is our only focus and there is no connection between the focuses on the outside and focuses within the group,” Kohli said.