Virat Kohli urges India fans to create intimidating atmosphere for England in third Test

NICK HOWSON: Though the Sardar Patel Stadium will have just 50,000 in attendance for each of the five days, the skipper wants the tourists welcomed by a hostile atmosphere

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Virat Kohli has urged the 50,000 India fans permitted to attend each day of the third Test to turn up the noise and create an intimidating atmosphere for England's players.

The outcome of the series and the last place in the World Test Championship final remain up for grabs heading into the two concluding matches of the series in Ahmedabad.

While the 110,000-capacity Sardar Patel stadium will be less than half full for its first international match since its redevelopment, it'll be the biggest crowd many of England's squad will have played in front of.

Kohli believes all ticket-holders have a major role to play across the five days and can make a noise that could upset and disrupt the tourists.

"The crowds really get behind us and the difference we really saw in the second Test [in Chennai]," he said. "The opposition really feels the pressure. 

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"I've experienced that as a batsman that when you walk onto the field and 30,000 fans are booing you or clapping when the bowlers are running in, it does play on your head. 

"We'd love for that at Motera to be present, make life more difficult for the opposition and really get behind the team. That is what playing at home is all about. 

"It is not only about conditions on the field, but 50,000 people and their energy behind your team does push you in the right direction and it does put a lot more pressure on the opposition."

The introduction of the pink ball and day-night conditions gives the contest an extra dimension. India were bowled out for their lowest Test score of 36 against Australia in Adelaide on their last appearance in the altered format last year, while England made just 58 in Auckland during their most recent outing in 2018.

But Kohli does not think either innings will be an indicator over what to expect this week.

"Both are bizarre experiences for two quality sides," he added.

^{Virat Kohli is confident India's last performance against the pink ball will not be repeated}

"If you ask England the same question, do you think you could be bowled out for 50 again, the answer would be no. 

"You understand that on that particular day things are meant to happen a certain way. Whatever you try to do it is out of your control and nothing seems to go right. 

"That is exactly what happened to us in Adelaide as well. Barring that 45 minutes of bad cricket we dominated that Test match as well. 

"We're confident in how we play the pink ball, even in Australia as well when the pitch was assisting their seamers. They were under the pump in that game apart from the 45 minutes when we were just blown away there was literally nothing to come back into the game with.

"You brush it aside which is what the team did beautifully afterwards from the Melbourne Test and they made a great comeback. 

"They are experiences, for sure, not a hindrance. Not something that is a mental scare, but something that we learn from, move ahead and you keep improving as cricketers and understand if it is a difficult situation again how do you apply yourself and get out of that tough situation."

Image courtesy of BCCI

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