Virat Kohli comes to asia cup this time as captain of india. captaincy is not a new things to him. but in a big tourno, this will be his first assignment as captain. if things happened with him, no doubt he will be india’s next captain after MS Dhoni. India will face Sri lanka in asia cup’s opening match at fatullah on 25 february. Indian team landed Dhaka on sunday. Captian Virat Kohli face the media at team hotel soon after. Here the extract.
Having very Good record as captain.
Yeah I have only captained in about 8 games right now they have gone pretty good but it’s a big tournament, my first as a captain. It’s a challenge I am looking forward to. Got a young group of guys, exciting player. that excites me to have a group that I can sort of have a talk to. It’s very important to have an understanding. It’s really exciting for me hope I can keep up the record like you said which has been pretty good in all the mathes that I have captained.
MS dhoni’s absence big challenge?
Yeah definitely. He is been a very important player for us in the past few years he has led the team very well. We have been very consistent in the one day format and one big reason has been his consistency and captaincy, him not being there is a big change for us. But I am sure these guys will be eagerly waiting to grab their oppurtunites. Dinesh Kartik has been called in as a replacement. He is a very talented player and I am sure he will make the most of it.
Virat Kohli future captain… kind of a challenge? What kind of a mindset do you have when you hear this?
Things like these have been said for a while I don’t really look into something unless I am appointed which is the case right now in this tournament. I am feeling very responsible as a player already in the past few years. I don’t think I need to change too much about the way I approach the game. I felt that I need to take more responsibility as a batsman which has helped me think in a more responsible manner. Obviously you know the challenged and requirements that come along with being the captain of the Indian cricket team. Very excited to be captain of this tournament and gives me a chance to test where I stand and how well I can lead a pack of very young and exciting cricketesr, who are going to shape up the Indian cricket team. It’s a test for me personally it will tell me where I stand as an international captain.
India lost to Bangladesh, not in the best of forms recently, factors back of the mind?
Last time unforuntatley we could not make it to the semis having won 2 out of 3. we lost to Bangladesh and got out of the tournament. But that’s how it goes in the tournament. As you said we didn’t have a great tour to nz but like how you have a bad series after a few good series. You can change it around in this case as well. You need one good performance from the boys and the momentum is suddenly with you. I think it’s a great chance when people think that we aren’t in the best of forms, to come out of this phase is a challenge that we will ike to relish. I am sure all these guys are up for it. Because none of the guys in this team like losing that I am sure of. They will come out with great intent.
Score a century like last time against Pakistan or make it to the final ?
BOviously the aim would be to win the tournament. We haven’t just come here to play one game and go back home. Playing against Pakistan is always a very hyped game for us. WE take every game the same way and the aim is to win the tournament eventually and not just one odd game and make sure the people are happy. That’s not the case. We will like to go all the way and win the tournament.
Your Rating Bangladesh as an opponent?
They have always been a very dangerous side in the odis, they can upset any opposition on a given day. They have got quite a lot of street-smart cricketesr. They know their conditions, know where to bowl, the spinners especially, will be difficult to get away. We have that in mind, but it’s more about focusing on your plans. They do have players where they can take the game away from you from situations when you feel that they cannot do it. They have surprised us quite a few times in the past, and we will surely be taking every game the equal way.
Feel of what MS dhoni go through on a daily basis?
I don’t think this is anything compared to what he has gone thorugh in the past few years. It’s just one tournament I am captaining. It’s a completely different thing if you’re regularly captaining the side and taking so much of criticism. When you win you’re praised, when you lose you’re criticised. I think that’s all ap art of it. I am not in a position to experience all that now because I have got this one –odd oppurutnity as I did in the past. I am not in a position to comment on that but I am sure it’s a very tough position to be in. you got ot be able to be ready to accept all the criticism and praise.
Style icon, youth icon, people follow you each and every moment, how difficult is it?
It’s as difficult as I want to read into it. My only job is to play cricket, score runs make my team win and I am some one who plays cricket with great honesty and lot of passion and that’s what people can connect to. This is not something that I have to go on the field aiming to keep all this things in check. Because that will take the focus away from the game. my only focus is to, be hundred percent committed to the sport. Off the field I am again this is not my aim to show people that I have a new hairstyle or something like that. I do things that I like, and if people like that as well it’s not a bad thing.
Confident to lift cup this time?
I would like to believe that we have a good chance to win this asia cup, because Bangladesh condition is very similar to ours. You have to be at your best to win it, you have teams like sri lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, even Afghanistan, you can’t take them lightly. They can surprise you. Especially the kind of excitement the other teams have, it’s always a chance for them to express themselves. I would surely like to believe that we have what it takes to win this asia cup.
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