Kohli says facing India’s spin triumvirate `not pleasant`

Nagpur: Test captain Virat Kohli believes that he would have find it ‘really difficult’ had he been put to bat against India’s spin triumvirate of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra.

“As a captain, I am delighted Ashwin is in my team along with Amit Mishra who brings in lot of variations for us and Jadeja, who is very consistent. All these three put together, if I was playing against them, I would find it really difficult to score off. It’s not pleasant facing all three together. I am glad we have all three in our team,” Kohli told media ahead of the third Test against South Africa in Nagpur.

Heaping more praise on spin spearhead Ashwin, Kohli said that the 29-year-old off-spinner has gone back to basics and is becoming a better bowler everyday.

“Ashwin has gotten back to basics in last six months, one can hardly see the carom ball. He is relying on his natural bowling action and he is getting fitter and that is helping his bowling. He is now able to put that force behind the ball and get more turn and bounce off pitches other bowlers find it difficult to get it from. He is becoming a better bowler everyday,” the Test captain added.

Ashwin and Jadeja were the chief tormentors with the ball as they wreaked havoc on the South African batsmen by claiming 12 wickets apiece. Besides, Mishra played a vital role in the first Test by removing batting marvel AB de Villiers twice.

India would take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series if they beat the tourists in the third Test starting tomorrow.

South Africa won the preceding T20 and ODI series. (ANI)