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Vishal Dikshit
Handling the “pressure is the most important thing” at the World Cup, stressed Virat Kohli ahead of the Indians’ pre-departure press interaction.
India go to the World Cup in England and Wales in good cheer despite a 3-2 reversal at home against Australia in their last series – they have a well-rounded side and are ranked No. 2 in the ICC’s ODI rankings. Though they are one of the few teams that has not reached the UK yet, the captain feels coping with the conditions wouldn’t be too difficult.
“It’s always good to go to any place in advance, it does get rid of all the nerves you have in the side going into the tournament like the World Cup,” Kohli said prior to the team’s departure on Tuesday. “White-ball cricket, playing in England, playing an ICC tournament, the conditions are not that different or that difficult I would say, compared to Test cricket. Pressure is the most important thing in the World Cup and not necessarily the conditions.
“Secondly, all the bowlers in the squad, even during the IPL they were bowling themselves to be in the zone for 50-over cricket. And we saw the guys bowling – no one looked tired or fatigued after bowling four overs. They were fresh. The ultimate goal is to be fit for the 50-over format and not let their fitness come down and that was communicated before the IPL.”
More to follow…
Source: ESPN Crickinfo