Virat Kohli’s message for people after 1st Test loss to New Zealand

Wellington: India captain Virat Kohli had a message for the team’s critics after they lost to New Zealand by 10 wickets in the opening Test of the two-match series in Wellington.

On Monday (February 24), the visitors had another batting collapse as the match ended on the fourth day. The Kiwis required just nine runs and they won in 1.4 overs. India suffered batting collapses in both innings, failing to cross the 200-run mark.

Also read: India lose opening Test to New Zealand

Speaking after the match, Kohli admitted that his side did not play well. “We know we haven't played well, but if people want to make a big deal out of it, make a mountain out of it, we can't help it as we don't think like that,” Kohli said at the post-match press conference at the Basin Reserve.

This was India’s first defeat in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). They still lead the table with 360 points.

The Delhi right-hander added, “Some people might want it to be the end of the world but it’s not. For us, it's a game of cricket we lost and we move on and keep our heads high.”

“We understand that we need to play well to win, also at home. There's no cakewalk at international level as teams will come and beat you. You accept it and that defines our character as a side.”

The skipper said they don’t pay heed to “outside chatter”. “That's why we have been able to play this kind of cricket. If we would have paid attention to the outside chatter, we would again be at No. 7 or 8 in the rankings. We don't really bother about what people are saying on the outside.”

Kohli said there was “no shame” in accepting the defeat. “If we have lost then we have no shame in accepting that. It means we didn't play this game well. It doesn't mean that we have become a bad team overnight. People might want to change our thoughts, but it doesn't work like that.”

On the next Test in Christchurch, he said, “We will work hard, and after four days play just like we have played all these years. Just because we have lost one match in between all wins, doesn’t mean that the belief is gone. The dressing room thinks differently and team atmosphere is different.”

The second and final Test starts on February 29.

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