Virat Kohli urges batsmen to support bowlers ahead of 3rd Test

Melbourne, Dec 25 (CRICKETNMORE): India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday urged his batsmen to step up and support the bowlers in their good job, ahead of the third Test beginning on Boxing Day here. Koh

"It is very important for batsmen to stand up, because as everyone can see, our bowling has been performing really well. Otherwise, the bowlers won't be able to do anything with the totals that we have been compiling," skipper Kohli said on the eve of the third Test.

"If we are batting second, we will try to take the lead or get as close to the opposition total as possible. If you equal a big score, then it becomes a second-innings' match and if you take a good first-innings lead, then you can capitalize on that," Kohli added.

"The batsmen must step up collectively. I won't say individually whether someone needs to do that or not, but as a batting unit, we have to definitely put up a better performance," Kohli sent out a loud and clear message for his batting unit," he pointed out.

Kohli did not want to dwell on the last two tests, saying the key is to stay in the moment.

"As a team, I don't think whether you are 2-0 up or 2-0 down or 1-1, what's happened in the past has no significance at all to what's going to happen in the next two Tests or what's going to happen in the next Test which is quite immediate.