Press Trust of India
Nagpur, March 14: With 10 wins out of 11 matches, India’s on-field plans have worked as per the script and star batsman Virat Kohli stated Monday here that it is imperative to maintain composure off the field as they deal with massive expectations in their quest for a second ICC World T20 title.
“In all these major events, the skill required is how you manage yourself off the field. On the field, it’s probably the safest and quietest place for you, especially playing in your home country,” Kohli told reporters during the pre-match media conference here.
“Field is where you get away and is the place where you face the least pressure in big tournaments like these where you have a chance to express yourself. The key would be how to manage yourself away off the ground,” he added.
The 27-year-old agreed that with so much being written, shown and talked about, it is very difficult to ignore all that. “You can’t just forget everything that’s being said to you,” stated the stylish right-hander. “Actually, people will come up to you and say ‘we really want you to win’ the World Cup. At home, we expect that and are prepared for it.”
Kohli welcomed the inclusion of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who according to him is ‘X-factor’ of the side and has contributed significantly to their success of late.
“Like I said during the 2011 World Cup, I was anxious to prove myself and establish well. The newcomers like Bumrah and Hardik too have anxiety but they are more confident now as compared to me then. They have played a lot of IPL cricket and rubbed shoulders with big players and performed in different situations. These factors have made them confident players and the side is benefitting from it,” informed Kohli.