Indian captain Kohli wary of unpredictable Pakistan
london — India captain Virat Kohli said staying “close to reality” was the best way to carry the hopes of a cricket-crazy nation heading into a Champions Trophy final against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Sunday’s showpiece match at the Oval in London is a 24,500 sell-out, with millions more around the world expected to watch the high-profile match.
Reigning champions India are the favourites, having launched their title-defence with a 124-run thrashing of Pakistan at Birmingham’s Edgbaston on June 4. A lone loss to Sri Lanka apart, India have been in commanding form.
Kohli’s own performances at the Champions Trophy have seen him return to the top of the one-day international batting rankings.
His four innings, including three not outs, have left him with a colossal tournament batting average of 253 heading into the final.
This week also saw the 28-yearold Kohli become the fastest man to score 8,000 ODI runs, reaching the landmark in 175 innings — seven fewer than South Africa star AB de Villiers’s 182.
Kohli already has 27 ODI centuries to his name, with a career strike-rate in excess of 91.
“I know there are expectations, I know there are people that expect the team and me to do well every time we play,” Kohli said.
Kohli’s cool temperament has often been seen to good effect in many a run chase, a quality which could yet prove useful on Sunday.
“If you are thinking ‘we are three down and I might get out’, then you will get out,” he said.
“If you’re thinking ‘we’re three down, I’m going to counter-attack and get the team back on track’, it ends up happening, because you’re convinced about it.
“That’s something I work on. I visualise a lot, and I see myself in difficult situations and actually convincing myself that I can pull the team out in those situations.
“It won’t happen every time, but eight out of 10 times it will end up happening because you’re so convinced about it.”
Meanwhile Kohli played down the importance of a group win against a Pakistan side who have since defeated top-ranked South Africa and Sri Lanka in pool play before thrashing previously unbeaten tournament hosts England by eight wickets in the semifinals.
“On their day they can beat any side in the world,” said Kohli of Pakistan.
“That’s the kind of players they have, we’re quite aware of that,” added Kohli, with India hammering Bangladesh by nine wickets in Thursday’s second semifinal at Edgbaston. “But, at the same time, neither are we too intimidated nor are we too arrogant about what we are doing.” —
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