Taking stock: Virat Kohli feels batting in Australia would be a challenge.
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New Delhi: India's premier batsman and stand-in-captain Virat Kohli feels that present field restriction rule is an advantage for batsmen only when they are playing in the sub-continent and it will be a completely different ball game during World Cup in Australia, next year. (Also read: Virat Kohli praises Team India for aggression )
Kohli, who led the team to a 5-0 clean sweep in the just-concluded one-day series against Sri Lanka, was answering in context to the tall scores made by Indian top-order with Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu and the skipper himself helping themselves with a ton each.
"I don't think that only field restrictions (four fielders outside 30-yard circle) should be attributed to the big scores by the batsmen. Yes, field restrictions are helpful but only in India or sub-continental conditions where the pitches are batsman friendly.
"I don't think that field restriction can be a factor in a place like Australia," Kohli said.
He went to elaborate his point of view.
"I believe field restrictions of four fielders is a good thing considering that the fight between bat and ball is pretty even and in fact you can say that bowlers enjoy a bit more advantage in these places. So it's good that the restriction makes it an even contest," Kohli explained.
Having taken India to victory on Sunday with a match-winning ton, Kohli said he never felt any "pressure".
"Pressure is a state of mind. If you feel there is pressure, you will be under pressure but if you play with a free mind then you put all these things behind and focus on the job. I have never felt any pressure," said Kohli.
Having taken a morning flight from Ranchi after Sunday's day-night affair, Kohli wasn't too keen to answer questions related to cricket as he unveiled his new website www.viratkohli.club and a new animation character inspired by his on-field exploits.
Asked about whether he would continue to bat at No 4 or get back to his preferred No 3 slot in the ODIs, Kohli said, "I still don't know about that. I was assigned a specific role by the team management during the series and I tried to perform that role to the best of my abilities. It's not for me to say whether I would be going back to No 3 slot in batting order or not," said Kohli.
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