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Anil Kumble, Indias new head coach, has said he will back Virat Kohlis aggression and desire to push boundaries to secure wins. Custom Kansas City Royals Nike Jerseys . He also said India would approach tough situations positively during the long season, which starts with a four-Test series in the West Indies.I love his aggression. I was no different, Kumble said at the teams pre-departure press conference in Bangalore. I was also aggressive, but very different in terms of how I probably came across on the field. Ill be the last person to curb someones natural instincts, but of course we all know how important it is to be ambassadors of India and be a part of the Indian cricket team. That everybody in the team understands. There is a fine line and we will ensure that everybody knows that. I certainly wont curb anyones instincts.Kohli, a picture of composure, wore a sheepish smile as talk of his over aggression did the rounds, but insisted that Indias mindset change wasnt one-off, and that it was something they planned when he took over the reins of the Test team in January 2015.Our first intention is to win - that wont change, he said. Yes, there have been situations from where weve lost, but we know we were in that position because of the positive brand of cricket that we played. The reference, clearly not lost on anyone, was the Adelaide Test in December 2014, which India lost trying to chase down 364 on the final day.We need to realise we got there in the first place because we played at 80%, so the focus is on the remaining 20%. Anil bhais mindset was the same during his playing days, so the mindset makes a difference. If you are hesitant, you dont explore a different side to your ability as a team. Our motive is the same. We will play with the same mindset of trying to win the series and not just being satisfied with solitary Test wins.As a follow-up, Kohli was asked about Test rankings, which he said were merely a byproduct of consistent cricket, and not the teams primary aim. High standards have different definitions, he said. The main goal is to play good cricket. Even if were No. 1 and someone else does better, theres a chance they can overtake you. So thats not our aim. The season is long, and were playing the same format over a length of time. So theres an opportunity to use this stretch to challenge ourselves. That will give us a chance to assess ourselves and will determine how we play Test cricket over the next few years.Where Kohli felt the team had benefited most during the week-long camp in Bangalore was in the players personal interactions with Kumble and the manner in which he may have broken down barriers within the group.We havent had too many camps before, but I feel theres already a lot that the team has benefited from, Kohli said. If you have experience of facing different situations in the past, you are better equipped. Understanding of skills and understanding of mindset are two different things. Mindset cant be taught, but it comes only when you have faced tough situations, and thats one big difference.The information weve got from him about mental adjustments needed to win has been a big boost. Hes been more than willing to speak to everyone equally - the pacers, spinners, batsmen - and address their concerns. Theres an emotional connect with the coach, no doubt, but its about how he makes the players feel comfortable. Thats what I believe.Anil bhai has all those qualities in abundance. Theres huge respect within the group for what hes achieved and also because hes been Test captain. He understands that and makes them comfortable, so I feel the combination has settled in beautifully. Hes been involved with the players in some way or the other throughout.Kohli brushed aside concerns over an elbow injury sustained by R Ashwin while batting during the camp, saying he had only suffered a bruise.When asked about Mohammed Shamis return to the Test side for the first time since recovering from a long-term knee injury, Kohli enthused about his ability to generate reverse-swing. The skill was on display on his debut against West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where he returned match figures of 9 for 118 - the best figures by an Indian fast bowler on Test debut.Shami is a skillful guy, we all know that. The way he bowls, the way he releases the ball, pitches the ball, its more or less perfect for Test cricket, Kohli said. The lines and lengths he bowls are always attacking. The best thing is when its seaming and swinging, he can bowl conventional lines and lengths. If its reverse-swinging, he knows exactly where to bring in the ball from. He has a great sense and feel of how to get batsmen out. We have been working with him on the mental strength aspect of his game. More consistency is something we push for him.Hes eager to prove himself and come back after injury. Weve seen when West Indies came to India in 2013, how he brought out his reverse-swing skills. Even in Adelaide in one of the sessions he brought us back into the game with two wickets. So hes always someone on whom we can bank in terms of picking wickets. In short bursts, if you want a good attacking spell, Shami can deliver that for you. Hes got pace, a great bouncer - so hes someone we always back because he knows he can take two-three wickets for us at any stage. Im glad to have him back. Custom Colorado Rockies Nike Jerseys . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Custom Philadelphia Phillies Nike Jerseys .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. https:///...-padres-nike-jerseys .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazils new coach is tearing up South American World Cup qualifying. In six matches in charge, Adenor Leonardo Bacchi -- known universally as Tite (pronounced Chi-Chi) -- has won all six.Now hes offering to challenge Europes best, including defending champion Germany, as the five-time World Cup winners prepare for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they are likely to be among the favorites.Lets play against Italy away, Tite said Monday in a 35-minute interview with The Associated Press. Spain, Germany, Portugal away.Tite also mentioned playing England at Wembley, which he called the temple of football.Tite, speaking in his modest office surrounded by TVs, a blackboard, and books, said he didnt expect his teams quick success. But now that its come and with Brazil not playing in next years Confederations Cup -- the World Cup warmup -- he must look elsewhere.Since we wont play in the Confederations Cup to feel the heat, the adrenaline, we will try another way. He said Brazil needs to play away so we feel that weight. So we have a solid performance in different venues.Tite is certainly interested in Germany, which humiliated Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals 2 + years ago in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte.The first step is to play a friendly against them, wherever they want in Germany, he said.The European schedule could become a reality quickly. Brazil, which leads South American qualifying, could officially qualify for Russia in its next two qualifiers in March against Uruguay and Paraguay.Brazil defeated Argentina 3-0 and Peru 2-0 in its last two qualifiers in November, and moved to No. 2 in the world rankings behind Argentina.Brazil has become less dependent on Barcelona star Neymar in the last few matches since Tite took over after Dunga was fired.In the meantime, he has discovered several rising stars that have made Brazil a team -- not a one-player show.If Brazil depends only on Neymar there will be a problem with Brazil, not with Neymar, Tite explained. Brazil needs the individual creativity of Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, Douglas Costa. But it needs the collective creativity that sometimes people dont pay attention to.Tite also said that Neymars clash withh Spanish tax authorities was personal though he added that theres not much he can do about it. Custom Detroit Tigers Nike Jerseys. Tite is counting on improvement from his No. 9, 19-year-old Gabriel Jesus, who is moving to Manchester City in January from Brazil club Palmeiras. He expects him to be as good in Europe as hes been in Brazil.His level of performance will be very similar, with some tactical adjustments, of course, Tite said.Asked about investigations into CBF President Marco Polo del Nero, who has been indicted by U.S. authorities for corruption, Tite said those responsible are the ones that have to pay.He declined to say more, but last year he signed a petition asking for Del Nero to resign.Tite will be on the road in the next few days. On Thursday he is off to Spain to see Barcelona play Real Madrid. A big believer in scouting his players, he also expects to watch Brazilian players at Paris Saint-Germain.The former coach of Sao Paulo club Corinthians, Tite is also a student of the game. He is reading former Manchester United manager Alex Fergusons autobiography, and the copy already is full of footnotes and notations.But his main inspiration is Bayern Munichs coach Carlo Ancelotti, who allowed him to be an observer in 2014 at Real Madrid.Ancelottis teams are more balanced, Tite said. Its a more Italian defense and creativity from the midfield forward. I admire his work and also his discreet profile. I am also like that.When he is not working, Tite clings to his family in Rio. His son Matheus is one of his key scouts. And his wife Rose keeps him down to earth during their early morning walks.Hes also thinking beyond the 2018 World Cup. But he suggested nothing will be as exciting as the next 19 months.I am honestly making a dream come true, he said. Anything that comes after Brazil will not be bigger than this.---Mauricio Savarese on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MSavarese . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/mauricio-savareseStephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP .His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/stephen-wade ' ' '