Still on a learning curve: Virat Kohli

Still on a learning curve as India’s Test skipper, Virat Kohli said controlling sessions which don’t exactly go the team’s way is among the most crucial captaincy lessons that he has learnt so far in his tenure.

“One thing that stands out in the learning process is how to control a session which is not going your way. How to stop the runs and keep the pressure (on the opposition) when you are not taking wickets That’s very important and something which I have experienced as captain,” Kohli said on the eve of the third and final Test against New Zealand here.

“It’s a very important time in a Test match, not to go too negative while (at the same time) controlling the runs (of the opposition). It’s a thin line, and it’s important not to go one-dimensional when things are not going your way.”

India have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series but Kohli confirmed that the team was not going to experiment with a make-shift opener and instead give Gautam Gambhir a chance to resurrect his career after two years.

“That’s a natural change because of injury to Shikhar (Dhawan), natural because he is the third opener in the team,” said Kohli on the chances of Gambhir opening the innings with Murali Vijay after being in the reserves in the second Test at Kolkata.