Hambantota: Virat Kohli, who fashioned India’s 21-run voctory over Sri Lanka in the first ODI on Saturday, says that wearing India colours was a big motivating factor for him.
“I get really motivated when I put on India jersey. It is a responsibility so I want to perform the best way I can,” Kohli told reporters at the post match press conference Saturday night.
“I was fortunate to have done well on a consistent basis. It was a matter of going out there and applying yourself and look for the best possible result,” said Kohli who scored a 133-ball 106 to give India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
He said the breeze at Hambantota played a big role in the day part of the innings.
“Ball travels much quicker off the bat in the night. We made a few mistakes in the field because we had not played here before,” Kohli said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene conceded that it was a tough target to chase down but felt his side did not give up and tried till the end. “It was a tough target to chase under lights, but there were positives from the game that we can take,” Jayawardene said.
Commenting on Kohli’s performance, Jayawardene said that despite the young Indian’s three hundreds against Sri Lanka in the recent past, there were others in the Indian side the Lankans have to be wary of.
“We must try to stop him from scoring but its just not him only,” he said.
Jayawardene said no Sri Lankan batsman was able to bat alongside Sangakkara, who hit 133 for a losing cause, to keep up with the required run rate.
“Kumar batted exceptionally well dragging the game to where it needed to be so that we can have a crack at it,” Jayawardene said.
Meanwhile, it was announced that Sri Lankan paceman Nuwan Kulasekara has been ruled out of the remainder of the series after injuring his groin while attempting a catch during the series-opener.
Jayawardene said they do not know the extent of his injury.
“Nuwan is out of the series. He has got a groin injury. We cannot get a scan here. Once we get back to Colombo, we will get a scan done and see the extent of the injury and how long he will have to be out,” Jayawardene said.
Kulasekara suffered the injury when he went for a catch, offered by Virender Sehwag, in the 11th over.
Kulasekara, who was fielding at mid-off, dived to pouch the mistimed shot by the Indian, but his effort did not help his side as TV replays could not suggest if the catch was taken cleanly.
Sehwag, who went on to make 96, was on 24 at that time.
Kulasekara did not bowl after the incident. He bowled five overs and took the wicket of Gautam Gambhir.
Jayawardene said the replacement will be discussed soon.
Slow India fined
India captain MS Dhoni and his team mates were fined for the team’s slow over-rate in the first ODI.
Dhoni has received a 20 percent fine, with the rest of the team fined 10 per cent. (Agencies)