Virat Kohli: “By the time the Tests come, we’ll be so comfortable that we won’t even feel like we’ll be playing an away series”

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India captain Virat Kohli believes that his side can give England a run for their money when they tour the country for three Twenty20 Internationals, three ODIs and five Tests.

Kohli is feeling especially confident about the Test series as he feels it “won’t even feel like we’ll be playing an away series” since the national team will have enough time to get accustomed to the conditions during the limited overs matches.

Even though Kohli was reminded that he averaged 13.40 and India lost 3-1 in their last Test series in England in 2014, he insisted that his side will be a lot tougher to beat this time around.

“The last time we played [in England], we felt that collectively as a team we didn’t perform consistently in all three skills,” Kohli was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “Because of that, the batsmen feel the extra pressure, or the bowlers feel the pressure because they feel batsmen aren’t doing enough.

“But when both click together and whether it’s swinging or seaming, bounce or turn, if you have momentum, any conditions feel favourable and if you don’t have the momentum, flat pitches may also feel tough.

“But yes, the conditions are going to be different, we will have to respect that. By the time the Tests come, we’ll be so comfortable that we won’t even feel like we’ll be playing an away series. So once you spend time there, you get comfortable and that’s the biggest factor. If you are at ease mentally, it will show in your performances.”

Meanwhile, Kohli also confirmed that he has fully recovered from a neck injury, which saw his county stint with Surrey scrapped.

“I’m 100 percent ready to go. Neck is fine,” he was quoted as saying by Sport24. “I have passed the fitness test and (am) excited to get back on the field.”