Will play fourth Test if 100 percent fit: Kohli

He wants to win the series 2-1 as a major building block for Australia to go on and dominate like they did at the turn of the 21st century. Their run of consecutive Test defeats in Asia had stretched to nine. I think we have played a lot of cricket even in Dharamsala. “I don’t know mentally, I think you just have to be up for it”.

“I am no different from anyone”. “I think the wicket will determine a result”. You can’t attack non-stop. I know that if you get a bit defensive on occasions and build a bit of pressure. While previous BCCI officials have been wrong in backing their players even when they were in the wrong, this crop of naive administrators has pulled the rug under the man who goes out to do battle for them each day. It’s very hard to contain the scoreboard.

Kohli has been at the centre of controversy during the Border-Gavaskar series accusing Australia of systemic cheating with the DRS review which led to a verbal stoush with Australia captain Steve Smith.

Australia’s batsmen have also bought into his line of thinking, the fifth day in Ranchi the most emphatic proof of this. Kohli, however, came out to bat at his usual No 4 position. They have guts to say whatever they feel.

The series so far has been exciting as the performance of the pitch has been impressive from both ends. “In that regard I’d rather be in our boat than theirs”. However, cricket on the subcontinent is more a battle of attrition than a speed contest.

Much has been made of the past in analysis of the epic four-Test series in India.

“I’ve been really impressed with Renshaw”, Smith said. “I always somehow find an Australian in him the way he plays and I absolutely love how he accepts challenges”, the World Cup-winning skipper added.

The only thing is, I’m surprised, so many people are getting affected by just one individual, so good luck to them. I am sure those guys can relate to it.

In a scathing piece last evening, the newspaper accused Kohli of destroying the spirit of the game in the on-going series between India and Australia. “Just like President Trump, Kohli chose to blame the media as a means of trying to hide the egg smeared right across his face”, read a paragraph from the piece.

Dharamsala has a reputation of being among the most pace-friendly pitches in India, offering good bounce and carry.

“We would look to continue that and win the series”. Everyone’s really proud and motivated to play for the country. “I’m just focussed on controlling what we can and take it one ball at a time and the process”. I’m not anxious about the result as such.