Australia coach Justin Langer said on Tuesday his team “will have plans” for the Indian talisman Virat Kohli as cricket heavyweights renew one of the sport’s greatest rivalries with the inaugural day and night event. in Adelaide starting Thursday. The first match of the four-game series at Adelaide Oval will be the only time India’s captain Kohli will play test cricket Down Under this summer as he will return home after the game to attend the birth of his first child. . Langer, however, is determined to prevent Kohli from setting the tone for the series.
“He is a great player and a great leader as well. I have a lot of respect for him, but we are going to be very well planned for him because we know how important he is to India as a leader and as a hitter. Then we will have our plans in place.” Langer said during an interaction with virtual media.
“The next trick is to run them, hopefully keep it out of the game with their runs. At the end of the day, that’s where it’s going to have the biggest impact.
“We’ve seen him a lot now, and he’s seen a lot of us too,” he added.
Langer also made it clear that his team will focus more on the skill part and look for ways to get Kohli out instead of getting unnecessarily involved with him.
“What we talk about is how to get Virat out. He is a great player, we do not talk about whether we make fun of him or not. That is silly … We play with skill, not with emotions, at least we try”, Langer said.
“Obviously there is emotion in the game, there is no doubt about that, we are going to control our emotions.”
Australia may have played more events day and night compared to India, but according to Langer, his team would have no advantage heading into the first pink ball game.
“I’ve always said that the best players and the best teams adapt regardless of the big game or the color of the ball, so whether it’s the red ball or the white or the pink ball, the best players and teams adapt to it, Langer said.
“So what happened in the past, it’s good to repeat. India just finished a practice game day and night, we practiced a bit under the lights.
“We haven’t played for 12 months or so, so when it comes to the crunch, regardless of the ball, regardless of whether it’s day-night or day. Test match is the game. I don’t think so (our previous performance) It has given us many advantages, “Langer added.
The hosts lost the last series at home to India in 2018-19, but Langer said revenge is not on his players’ minds.
“The word revenge is never a great word. It is a great rivalry for world cricket.”
He credited the Indian Premier League for promoting a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship among players.
Promoted
“I also love the way the game is played. No one can argue that cricket was not exciting (during the limited overs stage), but it was played in the right spirit through the ODI and T20 and I hope that will continue. hold, “Langer said.
“We will play hard cricket, but in spirit, it is meant to be played. That is one of the benefits of IPL, I think. The guys know each other. There is a good relationship … All said, I can not wait .. Bring it on, Thursday.
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