Kohli credits team for their performance despite early World Cup exit
India team captain Virat Kohli said he is proud of how the team performed in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup despite being knocked out early in the competition. The Men in Blue were one of the favourites to win the tournament and were expected to reach the finals. However, they were beaten when they played against New Zealand in the semi-finals.
“What we have spoken to the team is that you should be proud of the way you have played and must never forget that,” said Kohli in an interview with Times of India. “The moment you start taking credit away from what you’ve done, you start putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.”
“The important thing is to be humble about what you do, but at the same time, don’t beat yourself up to the extent that you lose your admiration. That balance is very important.”
“I have learnt most in my life from failures and setbacks. The worst setbacks have not only motivated me, but also improved me as a person, made me understand the importance of those times more than the success,” continued Kohli. “It makes you sit down and think about what you need to do now, build a roadmap for yourself.”
India is preparing for their tour of West Indies after the World Cup. The Men in Blue will have a series of Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), one-day internationals (ODIs), and Test matches against the Caribbean team. The Test match in Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua on August 22 to 27 is India’s first game as part of the ICC Test Championship. Kohli said he is excited to play when asked what he thought about the new Test format.
“It’s very exciting,” stated Kohli. “I think it’s happening at the right time for Test cricket. Although you are going to play bilateral series, the meaning and importance are way more. You have to plan for every series. I was excited about something of this sort, and now, it’s coming to life.”
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