Amid criticism, Virat Kohli stands by team selection

Taken by a green surface at the new Perth Stadium, India went in with four quicks. However, some indisciplined bowling at the start and a surface that wore down meant the fast bowlers found mixed success. Every session seemed to stress how much they missed having a spinner, especially when Australia’s Nathan Lyon finished with eight for the match and the Player of the Match award.

Ravichandran Ashwin had been ruled out with injury, but Kohli didn’t think he would have been an automatic selection in the conditions had he been fit.

Congratulations to Australia on this very comprehensive win. India will need to believe in themselves, learn from their mistakes and comeback stronger in Melbourne

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 18, 2018

“Yes, we could have considered (Ashwin, if he was fit),” he said after the match on Tuesday, December 18, adding. “If you see, the rough didn’t [offer spinners] much assistance. It was just the pace on the ball that Lyon bowled that he got the wickets.

“We didn’t want to think that we definitely wanted to consider a spinning option on this pitch, especially having had a look at the pitch on day one and how we thought it would play on the first three days – it exactly played out that way. We thought a fast bowler is going to be more productive and more helpful.”

“You just have to keep backing them and keep telling them that they belong and they are good enough to perform. It is not even giving someone individual goals. It’s just telling them that this is what we require as a team from the opener and this is the role that needs to be fulfilled.

“There’s not much that you can say, to be honest. You just have to be confident as a side and believe that the role that has been given, that will be fulfilled and individuals to a certain extent have to take responsibility for that. The guys are obviously looking forward to taking that responsibility.”