CWC 2019: "I would not do anything different just because it's a World Cup," says Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli will have the same energy and the desire to win in the CWC 2019 as he always does.

Virat Kohli | Getty Images

The modern master ‘Virat Kohli’ will be leading Team India in a World Cup for the first time in a few days. As the D-Day comes near, the excitement among fans around the world is increasing. Kohli has the experience of captaining the side under tremendous pressure of the fans. But the World Cup will be quite intriguing.

Kohli had an exclusive interview with India Today where he talked candidly about the expectations of fans about his individual performance impacting his game; and the thought process and intensity going into the World Cup.

He said, “Well obviously, I am going to look to contribute as much as possible. That's always been my mindset. I would not say I would look to do something different just because it's a World Cup. Fortunately, I am in the mindset that I have 12 months of the year.

So I don't have to pick myself up especially for a series or a tournament. Even if we play at home after a series in Australia, I would still have the same kind of intensity and the same kind of drive to make sure the team goes across the line,” he added.

He also said that it is obvious that fans will have expectations from the Indian captain on a personal level as the best batsman of the team needs to fire in such a big tournament. He thinks about his contributions to the team internally and keeps the energy going outside.

He said, “I don't necessarily focus on things that are expected of me. I think internally to help the team win, to contribute to the team. Those are the kind of pressures I like to deal with. On the outside, there are so many things that are not controllable... These are opinions, these are expectations which is absolutely fair because if you watch a game and you want me to do well, you will obviously have expectations and you would want me to perform which is absolutely fine.”

Every individual has his own expectations, requirements, and choices to make. So the main focus is going to stay in that mindset regardless of how the team is playing. If we are playing really well (it's important) not to get too excited about it. If we are we are sort of 50-50, it's important not to get bogged down by it,” he exclaimed.

Ravi Shastri (L) and Virat Kohli (R) | Getty Images

The Cricket World Cup 2019 will be Kohli’s third World Cup but he will be involved in the thick of things as more than before because he is the captain. He was a part of the CWC 2011 team as a player and as a vice-captain in CWC 2015.

He said, “If you look at everything together, yes this (the 2019 World Cup) is going to be probably the tournament where I am more or less going to be involved in a lot of things. In 2011, yes I was there as a player but I wasn't involved in the meetings and the pressures that come with taking the team forward and how to go about it. I was just happy doing my practice and contributing to the team. At this point in time, it's going to be very different.

Even in 2015, I wasn't involved to the extent where I had to be a part of everything going on. So yes, to understand the magnitude of a tournament like this from a captain's point of view along with the team management, it's a different ball-game,” he told India Today.

(Source: India Today)

 
 

By Sameer Deodhar - 19 Apr, 2019

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