Virat Kohli remains calm despite poor record against England
Tuesday 8 November 2016 11:28, UK
India's Virat Kohli refuses to put himself under extra pressure despite his modest batting record against England.
Kohli's average against England heading into the five-Test series - which begins on Wednesday - is just 20 from 17 innings despite an overall career average of close to 46.
In the five-Test series in England in 2014, he managed only 134 runs at an average of 13.4 with a highest score of 39. And of his 13 Test centuries, only one has come against England - at Nagpur in 2012.
"I can put it very simply as that was the phase when I didn't perform too well and it happened to be England and could have been any other country in the world," he said.
"It made me realise what I need to improve in my game so I am pretty thankful to England for that. I have been a really improved cricketer from then on.
"I just take it as a setback in my career, and not motivate myself in a way that I have to prove people wrong or I have to do something special against a particular opposition."
The right-hander's form in the five Tests will be crucial for the hosts if they are to improve their record against England, who have won the last three series against India.
The last time England toured India in 2012, Alastair Cook's side suffered a thumping loss in the opening Test at Ahmedabad but then turned the tables on the hosts to win the four-match series 2-1.
Since then, India have not lost a Test at home, blanking Australia and West Indies, crushing South Africa and whitewashing New Zealand in September.
In contrast, England are still smarting from their loss in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka where they shared the series 1-1 with the Test minnows.
It prompted Cook to label his side as 'underdogs' against India, currently the top Test team.
"I think some teams might want to play it down at the start of the series and then surprise the opponent but we are quite aware of those things," added Kohli.
"At the same time we don't want to get too ahead of ourselves. We understand what we need to do, so we are not going to get swayed away or carried away by the praise or adulation."
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