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Virat Kohli-“Will play in Dharamsala only if I pass fitness test”

Virat Kohli has said that he will undergo a fitness test before taking a call on his participation in the fourth Test at Dharamsala against Australia, starting Saturday (March 25).

He also stressed that there would be no special treatment meted out to him as far as injury management is concerned. “When we put these things in place, first thing I said was I’m not different from anyone else. Same process applies to me as it does for all the members of the team. There is no special treatment for anyone,” Kohli said. “If I’m 100 per cent fit for the game, is the only condition that I’ll take the field. The rules are the same for everyone and it applies for everyone.
Kohli wasn’t willing to divulge the magnitude of the risk involved if he were to take the field, but pointed out that net sessions are different from actual game time. The Indian skipper felt that he will be able to gauge all of it only after the fitness test. “Risks, yeah, the physio can explain that better. I don’t know the magnitude of the risk. All I know is that, if I get through the fitness test, then I’ll take the field.

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Kohli injured his right shoulder while putting in a dive on the first day of the third Test match in Ranchi. He did take part in that game later but has not yet fully recovered from the injury. On Thursday, he took part in a few fielding drills, throwing only underarm, but did not bat.

“It’s (batting in nets) very different from competition. That’s one thing. That’s something I experienced in Ranchi. When you have reactive movements is when the main magnitude of your injury comes out. Those are the things we’ll have to look at. The physio wants to take a little more time before I can test myself. (We) probably will take a call later tonight or tomorrow morning. We have to give that much time more before we take a call.
“Of course, you want to push yourself to be fit. But at times you have to understand where your body stands as well. It’s not an injury caused due to lack of fitness. It’s an impact injury. All those things need to be kept in mind. That’s why I said we need to give it more time to test with the physio. It’s a full match scenario, bowling at 140kmps, playing against that bowling. Reactive movements in the field like I do when I’m 100 per cent… As a player, as a captain you want to push yourself to take the field. We have to wait a bit more before we take the decision,” he said.
“You might be very, very fit but an impact injury is an impact injury. I have to accept that fact and try to get 100 per cent. If not, I’m sure the guys will take it as an opportunity to take the team ahead. Everyone’s really proud and motivated to play for the country. Me playing or not playing should not be so much of a difference to the other ten guys because they have a responsibility to fulfill as well.
Kohli also believed that the team will be ready for the game even if he had to miss out. “Every match is as crucial for me. It’s no different. It can be made out to be as the most important game of my career or my captaincy career. I won’t put it that way. I don’t see any other game or any other opposition different from anyone else. Those things remain the same in my head. I want to be 100 per cent fit but at some point you have to understand that these things are a part of your career as well. These things are bound to happen.
“I’ve not done anything special in the series so far but still the guys have fought it out. That shows why we are the No. 1 team in the world. We have quality players in the side who want to step up in these opportunities. If that scenario happens, I’m sure probably the others are looking at it as a game-changing game of their lives. It’s how you look at a particular scenario. So everyone’s optimistic about tomorrow, regardless,” he said.
Asked about the nature of the injury, Kohli felt that there was no problem while batting but that the injury could be aggravated while fielding. “It’s not the normal feeling. It’s different from how you are when you are 100 per cent. Those are the things you want to address when you play Tests. As a batsman you want to prepare a certain way, as a fielder you want to contribute a certain way. And certainly at this stage, the injury has an element of being aggravated in the field. While batting there is no problem of it getting aggravated whatsoever. So it’s a bit different from when you are 100 per cent. But again you never know. I’ve taken medication after the last game. As I said I’ve to give it a few more hours before I take that call,” the 28-year-old explained.

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