Kohli warns they will take no prisoners

INDIAN skipper Virat Kohli said yesterday his side would be ruthless in defending their Champions Trophy title next month, describing the competition as tougher even than the World Cup.

India won the last Champions Trophy in 2013 and head into June’s tournament in England and Wales as favourites after a hugely successful home season with 10 Test wins.

They are number one in the Test rankings after series victories over New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia, and hope to carry that form into the 50-over Champions Trophy event.

“The hunger to win and ruthlessness is what we speak about all the time. In Test cricket we have done well with that mindset,” Kohli told reporters in Mumbai before the squad’s departure for England.

“That goes a long way in a tournament like this. If we think in that manner, we will get the results we want more often than not.”

India will play South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Group B, while England, Australia, Bangladesh and New Zealand form Group A. The two top sides from each group will progress to the semifinals.

Kohli, who was part of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side in 2013 that claimed the trophy, said the eight-team event offered little room for error.

“I think because the tournament is much shorter and you have got top eight teams in the world, the competitiveness is much higher from the word go.

“In a World Cup you have league games and you have time to get into the tournament and dominate in the later half. But in Champions Trophy you need to be on the top of your game from game one. If not, then your chances go down pretty soon.”

India have retained eight members of their squad that overcame England in 2013.

Kohli described wicketkeeperbatsman Dhoni and veteran batsman Yuvraj Singh as “the two pillars” of the Indian side.

“They have so much experience that if you give them freedom to play their own game in the middle-order then I am sure they are the best judge of how to win a game,” said Kohli, who assumed the ODI captaincy from Dhoni in January.

India begin their Champions Trophy campaign against archrivals Pakistan on June 4 in Birmingham, but Kohli played down the hype surrounding the hotly anticipated clash.

“An India-Pakistan game is always exciting for the fans but for us as cricketers, it’s just a game of cricket.” — AFP