Noise outside India-Pakistan match doesn’t bother me: Kohli

Dubai: Captain Virat Kohli on Saturday said outside noise in an India-Pakistan match does not bother him one bit. “No, it does not as it is a very situational thing,” Kohli said on eve of India’s opening match against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday. “We are in a situation where we are in charge of what […]

Dubai: Captain Virat Kohli on Saturday said outside noise in an India-Pakistan match does not bother him one bit. “No, it does not as it is a very situational thing,” Kohli said on eve of India’s opening match against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.

“We are in a situation where we are in charge of what we need to do and for that we need to be in the most balanced space possible. It’s also a thing to understand that as professional cricketers, you eventually start thinking about the situation we are going to be in as batters and bowlers,” Kohli spoke about his team’s mindset.

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He further said: “In games likes these, some unnecessary stuff happens on the professional point from outside that. It’s fine as long as it stays outside our controlled environment, we just focus on what we need to do as cricketers and hence it’s no different from other games of cricket that we play.Yes atmosphere inside the stadium is different but our mindset is not different and our preparations are no different.”

Meanwhile, Kolhi said Hardik Pandya’s prowess as a batter for the crucial number six spot is such that his replacement “can’t be created overnight” and his place in the playing XI is non-negotiable even if he can’t bowl full steam in the T20 World Cup.

Pandya underwent a lower back surgery in 2019 and since then has bowled occasionally, raising questions if he can be played as a pure batter in the premier event. Kohli, though, on the eve of the Pakistan game, sealed the debate. “Honesty, I feel, Hardik presently with his physical condition is getting better in terms of being able to bowl two overs for us at a certain stage in this tournament,” Kohli said at the pre-match press conference when asked if the flamboyant Baroda man will be selected in case he doesn’t bowl.

Kohli has himself bowled in the warm-up game against Australia and said that if need be, they have manageable options. “….and we strongly believe that we can make most of the opportunity that we have at hand till the time he starts bowling. “We have considered a couple of other options to chip in for a over or two. So we are not bothered at all. What he brings in at that spot is something that one can’t create overnight,” the skipper was crystal clear.

However, Kohli didn’t divulge much about the playing XI although he said the players are aware of their respective roles. “We have spoken about our combinations but I am not going to reveal it right now but we have put in place a very balanced team that we feel covers all bases properly,” he said.

“We are pretty confident in terms of execution as well. Guys have been playing a lot of T20 cricket in the IPL and everyone is playing well and that’s a positive thing for the team. “Now it’s purely about execution out there in the middle which everyone is confident to do so. Role clarity is something that we have addressed already. We feel we are well prepared.”

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