Kohli: Young players have to learn a lot

Dubai: The younger lot of Indian batsmen have drawn enough flak in recent months for not often rising to the occasion, and Virat Kohli has no qualms about taking the criticism on the chin.

The former under-19 World Cup-winning captain, who is fast acquiring the reputation of being a good finisher in one-day cricket, feels that his generation has a long way to go before they can catch up with the Tendulkars and Gangulys.

Speaking to Gulf News from India on the eve of his departure for South Africa for Champions League T20, the Delhi batsman spoke for his generation: "I believe that all the younger players, including myself, have a long way to go. We should focus on giving in our best and be open to learning at each step of the game."

Ever since he made his international debut in Sri Lanka two years back, it has been bit of a start-stop affair for him — though it's only understandable when the middle order is packed with names like Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and of course Sachin Tendulkar himself. However, given the limited opportunities, he has not done too badly for himself with an average of 41.74 from 34 one-dayers, which includes two centuries.

Agenda

While Kohli can certainly fancy himself a chance to be in the frame for the World Cup in six months' time, his agenda right now is to hit the ground running for Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Champions League.

Agreeing that none of the Indian teams were really up for it in the first edition of the event last year, including the Bangalore Royal Challengers, Kohli says: "We learn from our experiences and I believe that the first edition was a great experience for all of us. We hope to give off our best this year."

One of the big pluses for the Anil Kumble-led team during their campaign in South Africa will be the presence of three Proteas heavyweights in Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and paceman Dale Steyn.

"The presence of the trio, with their knowledge of the local conditions, will definitey supplement the team," felt the 21-year-old.

In a batting line-up that boasts the likes of Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Ross Taylor and Boucher, Kohli is still the junior pro and needs to prove himself in the limited opportunities that the CL-T20 has offer.

Asked at which position he would be comfortable in the batting order, he presented a straight bat: "I have been playing at number three and four in international as well as domestic cricket. Regarding the approach, my job will be to stay focused and give my best on the field."

Forget competition, Kohli feels that it's a privilege to be sharing the dressing room with two of the best batsmen in contemporary cricket in Dravid and Kallis. "Senior players are always a big support in each form of the game and I believe that I have learned from both," he said.

There had been very little recovery time for South Africa-bound players like him, who had to pack their bags again after a long tour of Sri Lanka, but Kohli feels a modern-day cricketer cannot really complain about it.

"It always takes time to adapt to new conditions and team roles when you shift from a Team India series to your club tournaments, but as I have been here [with Royal Challengers] for three years, I am very comfortable with my teammates and believe it becomes easier each year," he said.

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