Visakhapatnam: India will welcome fit-again opener Lokesh Rahul in the second test with Gautam Gambhir, who made 29 and zero in Rajkot, set to sit out.
"We had it pretty clear in our heads that KL is our number one choice along with (Murali) Vijay," Kohli said of the 24-year-old Rahul, who joined the squad having recovered from a hamstring injury.
"When he is fit at any stage, he comes back into the team and we are going to start with him. That was the whole idea behind it. We were waiting for him to recover as soon as possible.
"In the meantime, Gautam got the chances that he got. He played really well in different situations."
After the draw in Rajkot where India`s spinners made little impact, Kohli expressed his displeasure with the pitch which he thought had too much grass.
"Generally in Vizag the pitch has always been something that helps the spinners. I expect the wicket to do the same," the 28-year-old said.
"We played a one-dayer here, the spinners got a few wickets here but at the same time the quick bowlers had a bit of assistance early on.
"It`s a wicket where obviously the spinners will find it nice to bowl on."
Rahul, who suffered a hamstring injury during the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, made 76 in a Ranji Trophy match for Karnataka against Rajasthan and his return will boost a batting line-up which is missing Rohit Sharma down the order.
