Kohli blames timid Indian batsmen for defeat

Indian captain Virat Kohli blamed what he said was the "lack of intent" to go for a win on the fourth day of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

"It was a case of us not playing fearless cricket. We were tentative. We were not able to counter what was being thrown at us. We should have been more smart with how we should have gone about playing the spinners in the second innings", said Kohli after his team crashed to a 63-run defeat.

"We were let down by our batting. There are no excuses there. The need of the hour in the second innings was to take calculated risk when you are chasing a small total in the fourth innings. Our intent was lacking", Kohli added.

Resuming at 23 for 1 in pursuit of a 176 target, the Indian batsmen, Shikkar Dawan in particular, played a defensive game on a slow turning pitch which Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said was difficult to bat on.

It was a memorable day for the struggling left arm spinner Rangana Herath who exploited the conditions well and truly to pick up seven wickets after going wicket-less in the first innings.

But Kohli said the wicket remained the same right throughout the match and not just on the fourth day.

"I don't think the wicket had too many demons in it. When the pressure is mounted on you, the wicket looks difficult. If it's not, it looks easy. The wicket did not really change much in all the four innings, to be honest. The turn and the bounce was pretty consistent throughout", said Kohli.