Asked for bouncy wickets keeping SA tour in mind: Kohli

Nagpur, Nov 23 - A candid India skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday admitted that he had asked for bouncy wickets for the home series against Sri Lanka keeping in mind the more tougher tour to South Africa in January. "Yes (I

Kohli also dropped hints that the spin twins Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja might start against the Proteas as team balance would be kept in mind first.

"I can't commit to that 100 percent when we play abroad that we will be playing with two spinners, to be honest. 

"It is because we need to have a look at the balance of the side as well. Obviously, those two guys with their batting abilities are both contenders to start a Test match depending upon the batsmen we are up against in the opposition," the skipper said.

"It's very important to understand if a left-arm spinner is bowling to five right-handers or the off-spinner is bowling to four left-handers. Just because of the angle the ball coming in makes so much difference against a spinner. 

"And it can turn away from you at some stage in the Test match. Those are very minor factors that you assess before picking the first spinner in overseas conditions," the 29-year-old explained.

The tweakers have taken more than 100 wickets at Jamtha since the first Test played here in 2008 but those factors won't be taken into account when he decides on the playing XI for Friday.

"That won't matter because, obviously you have to look at what you are playing at, what kind of wicket you are playing on and pick the team accordingly. I don't think the past record should matter a lot because you can see totally different wickets at venues when you play at different times.

"For example, the Ashes Test match going on right now doesn't seem to be the usual Gabba wicket that we see with a lot of pace, bounce and carry. So, it all depends on what you are playing on and then select the team accordingly," Kohli said about the opening Ashes Test being played at Adelaide in Australia.

---

IANS