ugc_banner

Virat Kohli: No fatigue due to IPL, World Cup conditions not a challenge

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: May 21, 2019, 08:07 PM IST
main img
Virat Kohli during the press conference. Photograph:(PTI)

Story highlights

Virat Kohli on India's plans for Cricket World Cup 2019

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and the head coach Ravi Shastri addressed a press conference before leaving for the World Cup, which is scheduled to kick off from May 30. 

During the press conference, Kohli said, "Handling pressure is the most important thing in the World Cup and not necessarily the conditions. All our bowlers are fresh, no one looks fatigued."

"I think the only expectation we have is to play really good cricket and that's been our focus," Kohli added. 

"The team has been together for past four-five years and bowled together as unit. All players complement each other and can adjust accordingly," said Kohli on the Indian squad. 

The skipper also reflected his thoughts on England's pitches. 

"Our mantra is to be flexible in the last 10 overs, pitches are going to be flat but overcast conditions will also have to be taken into consideration. It will also depend on venue to venue, so you have to be prepared for that and be flexible," Kohli said. 

On the other hand, coach Ravi Shastri said, "World Cup might be a stage but the stage is to be enjoyed, if we play to our potential then the Cup might be back here."

On the changed format of the World Cup, Shastri said, "Format is also challenging, the gap between team is also very close. It's a very strong competition. It will be fantastic. The plus side is you have nine games."

"It's a strong competition, even Bangladesh and Afghanistan are much stronger than in 2015," Shastri added. 

On MS Dhoni, Shastri said, "He has a massive role. There is no one better than him in this format especially in those little moments which can change the game. He will be a big player in this World Cup."

Indian will play two warm-up matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh on May 25 and May 28 respectively before starting their campaign against South Africa on June 6. 

Despite the fourth-place-batsman conundrum, the Indian team boast of a strong batting unit in the presence of openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan along with Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya to follow. 

Team Indian World Cup squad

The BCCI Selection Committee added KL Rahul and Vijay Shankar and it is expected that they might be considered for the number four spot. 

MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik are the two wicketkeepers the management has picked. 

Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are the three all-rounders of Team India. 

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the three crucial pacers for the side. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were included as specialist spinners.