Bumrah is the best bowler in world cricket now: Kohli

Melbourne: Skipper Virat Kohli rated Jasprit Bumrah as the "best (fast) bowler in the world" and someone even he would have been "scared to face" on a bouncy Perth wicket.

"Jasprit obviously is the best bowler in the world, as per me. He is a match winner, without doubt, even if he has only been playing (Test cricket) for 12 months," Kohli was lavish in his praise for the Gujarat bowler, who has taken 48 wickets in his memorable season in Test cricket.

"He (Bumrah) was unlucky not to get wickets in Perth. The way he bowled, it was almost criminal that he didn't reap the rewards," Kohli said.

"I certainly feel proud as a captain to watch these guys bowling in partnerships, nobody is trying to outdo another guy, it's all about what the team wants and the kind of breakthroughs ... That's why they are so special," he added.

About one of his trusted lieutenants Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli said, "Pujara has been a lot more flexible in altering his game very quickly. From the last time he played in Australia, he has made a few changes to his set-up, and that's working for him. He is embracing the fact that if something has been told to him and he has to work on those things, he has worked on it,"

With a bowling attack that can get 20 wickets in any conditions, Pujara's role becomes even more crucial reckons Kohli.

"And now that we have the bowling attack that we can rely on to get us 20 wickets and his role becomes even more crucial. If he can bat time and hold one end, and all the other batsmen can bat positively around him, we get 350, touching 400, in conditions in Australia, which puts us in a great position to get a result.

"He (Pujara) realises that even more now. Because of the bowling attack that we have, his job is to hold one end and bat for long hours so that we have a great opportunity to get big runs and put them out of the game. I think that confidence that is seen is because of them (bowlers) and he is embracing that very well," Kohli reasoned.

The skipper lauded debutant Mayank Agarwal for his patient knock and put Hanuma Vihari's dogged resistance upfront in perspective.

"Mayank's contribution was also special. His composure, his intent and belief, it was a huge boost for us. The way he batted at top of the order on first day, it has to be praised because it is not easy to come to Australia and start like that, and against such a bowling attack. He should also get a lot of credit for the win," Kohli said.

Getting Vihari to open was an instinctive decision, said Kohli.

"We felt good about (asking Vihari to open). Instinctively, you have a feel for any decision you make. You might not think of Vihari's contribution (8 off 66 balls and 13 off 45 balls) as being significant to this game. But if you look at the fact that he played out 15 overs of the new-ball with Mayank in the first innings, it allowed Cheteshwar Pujara and me to bat, and bat, and bat," Kohli elaborated.

Taking a dig at uncharitable comments by former Australian players, Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Sunday credited the country's domestic structure for his team's victories during the ongoing tour of Australia.

Former Australian star Mark Waugh and former leg-spinner Kerry O'Keeffe had made fun of the standards of India's first-class cricket championship Ranji Trophy during the third day of the Boxing Day Test.

But after India outplayed Australia on Sunday, Kohli took the opportunity to hit back at the former stars. "Our first-class cricket is amazing. The tough conditions with the second new ball makes bowlers hard and bowling with the old ball proved to be a difference in this match," Kohli said.