‘I’m still a club cricketer, I’m no Viv Richards’

India batsman Virat Kohli dismisses comparison with West Indies great.

Sydney

: Sir Viv Richards sees a bit of himself in Virat Kohli but the Indian batsman feels comparisons with the legend are surreal as he can't even think of emulating the West Indian's audacity of smacking the world's greatest fast bowlers without protective gear.

Kohli has become the fastest to notch up 7,000 runs, 25 hundreds in the ODI format.

The feats have led to comparisons with Richards, one among the very few batsmen who dominated on the Australian soil.

-"I don't go to the field thinking I want to fight with someone today. I am in a good headspace where I am contributing to the team. And it is not an argument on the field. It's been different this time than last time, rather than swearing or bad words, it is just fun. People watching should have some fun as well. My focus is to go out there and perform, as these things don't bother me,-" said Kohli ahead of the fifth and final one-dayer against India here on Saturday.

-"And it is surreal to think of comparisons. I have always thought that it was tougher for the greats of the game because we have better protective gear today. I can't think of playing in a cap and Sir Viv always did. He smacked fast bowlers for sixes all over the world and even thinking about it sends chills down your spine,-" he added.

Richards had stated some time back that Kohli's batting reminds him of himself for the sheer aggression and passion he puts into his effort.

The 27-year-old said he still considers himself a club cricketer.

-"I still think of myself as a club cricketer who wants to do well in every game. That's the mindset I had when I hadn't played state cricket for Delhi yet. I just wanted to go and win every match for my academy team and score as many runs as possible. That was what I was taught by my coach and something that I have been lucky to be able to remember.

-"Statistics will take care of themselves on the sidelines. I just feel grateful that I am in that position and that I remember what got me into that position,-" said Kohli.

The Indian top-order has done well enough, with Rohit Sharma and Kohli himself scoring two hundreds each. Shikhar Dhawan has scored a hundred too while Ajinkya Rahane has contributed two half-centuries. Due to their contributions, India have managed 300-plus scores in almost every game, and yet that has not been enough.

-"Obviously coming to Australia and getting 300 plus every time you play it has never been done before in a series when a team has so consistently come close to this score every time. It obviously is not a good feeling to lose ever, but we need to give Aussie batsmen credit because they know ground angles, their wickets, their conditions very well and worked out how to chase down scores and set us a big total like last game.

-"Combination of both, we could have executed plans better as I said, in crunch moments. They have played well, world champions and record streak of 18 games unbeaten at home.-"

Even so, the bowling and fielding haven't lived up to expectations, and are the two primary factors why India hasn't been able to turn the tables on the hosts so far on this tour.

-"It is important to give feedback to the bowlers. I have discussed this with MS (Dhoni) and now it is a conscious decision for me to stand at mid-off from where I can constantly talk to the bowlers. Our thinking is quite similar so I know when he sets a particular field where he wants the bowler to bowl.

-"I compliment them when they bowl well but also remind them where to bowl when they don't do so. A fast bowler's job isn't easy because it is tough on the body and sometimes the mind will do different things and he can be distracted,-" said Kohli.

-"At the same time we have to accept that they haven't done well in the crunch moments of the first three matches. But for the last match I think the batsmen have to share the blame. Had Shikhar (Dhawan) and I carried on, we could have finished the game in the 46th over, but this time the batsmen failed in pressure situations. So we have to take that responsibility and improve,-" he added.