Virat Kohli willing to step out of comfort zone ahead of T20 World Cup

India captain still wants side to take risks, despite India crashing to nine-wicket defeat against South Africa after deciding to bat first

India's captain Virat Kohli reacts after an unsuccessful review for the wicket of South Africa's captain Quinton de Kock during the third and last T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Bangalore, India, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
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India captain Virat Kohli's decision to bat first against South Africa in the third and final Twenty20 backfired but the 30-year-old says he wants to prepare for next year's Twenty20 World Cup by minimising the impact of the toss.

It was the first time in seven T20Is at the Chinnaswamy Stadium that the captain winning the toss chose to bat, only for a revamped South Africa to claim a series-levelling nine-wicket win on Sunday.

"Nothing is a given or a guarantee before you start playing," Kohli said. "I think if we as a team are willing to get out of our comfort zones a lot more, then we will be unfazed with what happens at the toss.

"Unless you do that and start taking those risks, you are always going to be put under pressure somewhere or the other. We want to make sure we iron all of those things out before we head into the World Cup."

India failed to capitalise on an aggressive start and ended with a below-par 134-9.

Ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia in October next year, Kohli's top priority is to recalibrate India's batting combinations in the shortest format.

"You have to understand as well that it's a very young side, you have to give them time as a team to come together," he said. "We batted until nine tonight, and that's one area we're looking to strengthen."

India's focus now shifts to the three-match Test series against South Africa, with the opening match in Visakhapatnam starting October 2.