Virat Kohli Says Issues Off the Field Won't Affect Team in Australia

Virat Kohli said the Indian team will not be affected by off-field controversies ahead of the tour of Australia. The stand-in captain said his players have trained hard and their focus will only be on cricket over the next six months.

"There is no place for negativity. Our immediate focus will be on the Test series," said Kohli. "I can assure you that we haven't been distracted by what has happened away from the field."

After the Mudgal Committee delivered its report on the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scam, the Supreme Court will pass a further judgement on November 24.

"When we went to Australia last time in 2011, it was a strong change for me. I hadn't witnessed such hostile environment before. My takeaway from that tour was that we always need to be positive. That is what I'll take forward this time. My experience will help me." (Kohli Will Enjoy Test Captaincy in Australia: Dravid)

Kohli also wanted the Indian team to be positive Down Under to counter the hostile environment from their pla

However, Kohli said a tour of England or Australia is no engineering examination and sought to downplay the hype. The Delhi batsman said he was confident India could beat Australia again, like they had in the past under Sourav Ganguly back in 2003-04. (India Test Captaincy Exciting: Kohli)

"We have a good chance of beating Australia in their home-ground. We've done it before. I don't see why we can't do it again," said Kohli. (Dhoni Should Stay Captain as Long as he Wants, Don't Rush Kohli: Gavaskar)

The 26-year-old batsman said it was a blessing for him as captain to have pacers who could bowl over 140 kmph on bouncy Australian pitches. "When you have four bowlers who can bowl 140 plus, it is a huge advantage and that's a blessing for any captain."

Meanwhile Team India director Ravi Shastri played down Glenn McGrath's prediction of a 0-4 whipping for Australia and pinned his hopes on Kohli, the captain.

"We will see. But McGrath needs to realise he isn't going to bowl. Kohli might be leading in a Test for the first time, but let me assure you once he is on the field, it would like he has led India in 25 Test matches already,"

Shastri said it was important for the team to be focused on cricket but also stressed on the need to switch off between games and take their minds away from the pressure.

Kohli will lead India in the first Test in Brisbane after Mahendra Singh Dhoni was ruled out due to a cracked thumb. The Delhi batsman is back in top form and his captaincy came in for high praise after India's 5-0 whitewash over the visiting Sri Lankans.

The first Test against Australia, starting on December 4, will be Kohli's first as captain. He has played 29 Test matches and has scored 1855 runs. He has been earmarked as the next full-time India captain after Dhoni's term ends.

India will play two two-day warm-ups on November 24-25 and November 28-29 ahead of the four match Test series.