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India will look to chase vs Australia in Bangalore ODI, says Kohli

November 01, 2013 19:36 IST
Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli indicated that India would prefer chasing rather than setting a target if the home side wins the toss in the series-deciding seven One-Day International, in Bangalore, on Saturday.

"Personally I feel good to chase because you know the target to meet. (We) can plan better and analyse how to play in different situations. I (also) feel good to calculate and play, which bowler to target and which ball to hit," the batting ace said on Friday.

"While batting first, we need to assess the batting conditions and big partnerships are important to score high. Whether batting first or second, partnership is very crucial for the team. We need to be in strong position," he added.

'Personally, my form has been pleasing for me so far'

November 01, 2013 19:36 IST
Virat Kohli

The seven-match series is now levelled 2-2 after the Ranchi and Cuttack ODIs were washed out and India's both wins have come while batting second, with the home side recording the second and third highest ever successful run chases in ODI history.

Kohli said the series has turned out to be a thrilling contest between the two teams, especially the way India have fought back from difficult situations.

"Personally, my form has been pleasing for me so far. Hopefully, I can do it once again in the last game.  We need to execute our plans to win the series, which has been a hard-fought battle so far," the Indian vice-captain said.

'We have so many talented batsmen like Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma'

November 01, 2013 19:36 IST
Shikhar Dhawan

He said Team India have no fitness issues and all the players are fit for selection for the crucial encounter.

When told that he is being seen as someone who can break some of Sachin Tendulkar's ODI records, Kohli said, "I used to dream of doing what Sachin did single-handedly in 1998 in Sharjah."

"But now we have so many talented batsmen like Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who have given great starts. They have been brilliant at the top and have given me a good platform to go and express myself. The credit has to go to everyone in the team," he said.

'I never expected to get a 100 in 50 plus balls'

November 01, 2013 19:36 IST
Virat Kohli (left) with Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Kohli has been the most consistent Indian batsman in the series so far having hit two of the three fastest hundreds (off 52 and 61 balls respectively) by an Indian in the second and sixth ODIs but he said winning is more important than personal records.

"It has been good so far. I never expected to get a 100 in 50 plus balls and another 100 in 60 balls," he said.

"Winning is the best drug one can have and winning is more important than records. A win tomorrow will give us a lot of confidence for the two Tests against the West Indies. We will do our best to give a winning farewell to Sachin," he added.

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