Chennai: His batting form has not been the best of late but an unfazed Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli today said he does not need to put in any extra effort on that front as he has always played with responsibility for the team.
Kohli, who played for India A in the just-concluded second unofficial four-day Test against Australia A, produced knocks of 16 and 45 in the match which the visiting team won by 10 wickets here today.
India have not played much of Test cricket this year and Kohli's form has been rather indifferent in the ODI arena where he hasn't scored a hundred since February.
Asked if he needs to curb his aggressive approach to get back into the groove ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka starting August 12, the batsman responded with a firm no.
"As a batsman I have always been responsible with the way I play my cricket and it comes from wanting to win the game for the team everytime I play. So I don't think I need to change too much in that aspect. I think that is one of the major reasons that the board thought that I could be the man to take up responsibility for the team," Kohli told 'bcci.tv'.
"It all boils down to how you play your cricket eventually and that's the way I have always played my cricket, be it on the field, be it the way I bat, I always give my 100 per cent. Putting in that extra effort in batting I don't think is required because I have always played in a responsible way for the team. And I will continue to that till the time I play for my country," he asserted.
Talking about the tour of Sri Lanka, which comprises three Tests, Kohli said he is looking forward to leading India for the first time in a full-fledged series.
"It's basically my first full assignment as Test captain. In Bangladesh it was a one-odd Test match it wasn't a full-fledged series. So it will be a new challenge for me and the whole team because we have such a young squad and so many new players looking to build their careers," he said.
"It is an exciting challenge to start together as a new unit. It is exciting for me and as a team. Everyone is very very happy and putting in all the effort required to do well in Test cricket. I am certain if we prepare well and have the right kind of vision, we will do really well in Sri Lanka. I am confident about the whole team and also hope that I am able to do the job given by BCCI," he added.
India A, for which Kohli turned up here, is currently being coached by former skipper Rahul Dravid. Kohli said playing under his tutelage has been helpful.
