The star batsman said that despite lagging 4-0 in the current ODI series, the Indian team's morale is still up. India play the hosts in a three-match T20 series after the ODI series concludes with the fifth and final game here tomorrow.
"If we were mentally bogged down we wouldn't be able to compete at all. We just have to be smarter about chasing down totals. If the results were different, there would be different questions and different debates. But we have to respect this result and Australia are a tough side, and they know these conditions better," Kohli said at the pre-match press conference.
"Morale is the same as we came here two weeks ago. Everyone is still trying and working hard. We have believed in the four games that we can cross the line at any stage. We always knew that but we haven't been able to execute that. We have a game tomorrow and still have three T20Is. We would like to finish strongly, and win all these games left. So we are looking at these four games rather than two series separately because we will feel much better about ourselves, if we do well from here on."
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"We have played good cricket so far, but we have not capitalised on important moments. Still I feel we have been very competitive on the field. In international cricket it is all about capitalising on those moments which Australia has done better than us. If you see the four matches so far, results could have gone either way.
(REOPENS FGN 15)
The Indian top-order has done well enough, with Rohit Sharma and Kohli himself scoring two hundreds each. Shikhar Dhawan has scored a hundred too while Ajinkya Rahane has contributed two half-centuries. Due to their contributions, India have managed 300-plus scores in almost every game, and yet that has not been enough.
"Combination of both, we could have executed plans better as I said, in crunch moments. They have played well, world champions and record streak of 18 games unbeaten at home."
"It is important to give feedback to the bowlers. I have discussed this with MS (Dhoni) and now it is a conscious decision for me to stand at mid-off from where I can constantly talk to the bowlers. Our thinking is quite similar so I know when he sets a particular field where he wants the bowler to bowl.
"I compliment them when they bowl well but also remind them where to bowl when they don't do so. A fast bowler's job isn't easy because it is tough on the body and sometimes the mind will do different things and he can be distracted," said Kohli.
as a world class bowler.
"He has been hampered by injuries quite often, but the way he has evolved as a bowler, it's been outstanding. I have played with him in IPL, I have faced him in my first tour to Australia. From then to now it's a massive change.
"He has learnt the art of reverse swing and bowling with the old ball as well is amazing to see, the way he has developed his skills. That's something that every cricketer in the world would admire. He has really taken his game to the next level and that's why he is counted among the top bowlers in world cricket and deserves to be there."
"I am not surprised (with the side including four spin bowlers), coming to India playing in summers. Wickets are meant to be dry and they are meant to turn. You will have a stronger spin bowling attack then getting six seven fast bowlers. That is a pretty natural selection," he said.