‘I have always liked this tournament; it represents consency’: Virat Kohli on Champions Trophy | Cricket News
India batting stalwart Virat Kohli said to Star Sports that he has always liked the Champions Trophy as a tournament because it ensures that the participants have to be at their best from the beginning to have any chance of qualifying for the next round. With less number of matches, the Champions Trophy offers little scope for errors with one defeat might become very costly in the scheme of things.
“The tournament is happening after a long time. I have always liked this tournament. It represents consency as you have to be in the top 8 of the rankings (to qualify). The level of competition is always good,” Kohli said.
“In ODI format, it creates the pressure of a T20 World Cup. There also you have three or four games in the league stage. If you don’t start well, you are under pressure. The pressure is from the first game itself and that is why I like it, you have to be at your best from game one,” he added.
Story continues below this ad
Kohli has played three editions of the 50-over event in 2009, 2013 and 2017 and will take to the field for his fourth straight edition of the tournament when India take on Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai.
India will play their remaining league games against Pakan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2. While the tournament host is Pakan, India will be playing all the games in Dubai as part of the event’s hybrid model.
Kohli will be aiming for a bagful of runs in the tournament after a tough Test tour of Australia. He was back amongst the runs in the preceding ODI series against England, scoring a half-century in the final game in Ahmedabad.
(With agency inputs)
