'Virat's reply to MS was pithy': Ex-coach reveals unheard story involving Kohli and Dhoni

Former India fielding coach R Sridhar recently released a book where he touched upon various topics from his time with Men in Blue. In his book, Sridhar revealed a never-before-heard story involving a conversation between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni ahe of final day of first Test match against Australia in December 2014. Apparently, Kohli wanted to chase down a target of 364 on last day to win match but Dhoni asked him to keep team's strength in mind while making that decision. 

'Kohli told me MS Dhoni slid into seat next to him & said 'Look, Virat...'

In his book 'Coaching Beyond: My Days With Indian cricket team', Sridhar revealed that Kohli was crystal clear in what team's approach would be next morning after Australia declared ir second innings at 290-5 and set India a target of 364 to chase on final day. Kohli wanted team to go all out in an attempt to chase down target. However, Dhoni, who h just anunced his retirement from Test cricket, was skeptical of move and h supposedly warned Kohli before final day of match. 

"Virat was unequivocal in what India's approach would be next morning matter what target y set us to chase. We were alrey looking at a required rate of 4 an over in case Australia declared overnight, which y did. But Virat was unshakable in his belief that re was question of battening down hatches and looking for a draw," Sridhar wrote in his book 'Coaching Beyond: My Days With Indian cricket team'.

"Virat later told me that on bus ride back to hotel, MS Dhoni slid into seat next to him. 'Look, Virat, you can chase down this total. You are that kind of a player and we all kw that but as captain, you will also have to think about what ors. Are batters capable of playing that positively and attempting to chase down 360 on final day of a Test match? While making decisions, you will have to consider strength of entire team'," Sridhar ded.

Sridhar furr disclosed Kohli's response to Dhoni's skepticism, saying that Delhi cricketer's answer to his white-ball captain was very clear and simple. As per Sridhar, Kohli told Dhoni that y will kw what team is capable of only if y try and chase down target on final day. 

 "Virat said he saw some merit in what MS h said but he was clear in his mind that positivity was way forward. Virat's reply to MS was pithy, 'Only if we try, we can kw na? Wher we can do it or t. We have t chased 360 on last day of a Test match ever before because we haven't yet tried to do that. Let us try and give it a shot. Unless we try how will kw how good we are?'" he concluded.

As far as final day is concerned, Kohli smashed his second century of match and forged a crucial partnership with Murali Vijay. However, despite Kohli and Vijay's efforts, India succumbed to Nathan Lyon's spell and lost match by 48 runs. 

Im: AP