ENG vs IND, 2018: We Are Looking Forward to Play More Difficult Test Cricket - Virat Kohli

Indian skipper Virat Kohli said his team is looking forward to playing hard cricket in the United Kingdom (UK). Kohli and his men are all set to jet-off to the England tour and the pre-departure press conference was held in Delhi on Friday (June 22).

Kohli maintained that he is 100 percent fit and ready to take on England.

The batting mainstay Kohli also added the break has helped him in recovering in time. Furthermore, he said that a lot of people talk more about India’s previous tour of England. He didn’t have the best of 2014 tour when he averaged a paltry 13 in the five-match Test series.

Indian captain looks forward to the England Challenge:

Kohli stated in the presser that the team is looking forward to exciting times in English conditions.

“This is just another series for me individually, but for us as a team, this is a very exciting time. After what happened in South Africa, we’re actually looking forward to playing more difficult Test cricket,” Kohli said in the press conference.

Meanwhile, Kohli believes that people talk a lot more about their previous England tour. Indian captain doesn’t understand the hype around the England tour.

“That I feel is the best thing that can happen. You don’t want to go to England saying, ‘Oh the Test series is in one month’. We want it to actually be sooner. That’s the kind of excitement we take along with us. It’s the same case with the ODIs and the T20s. It’s just a great phase for Indian cricket,” Kohli added.

Meanwhile, English conditions are one of the arduous conditions in the world to succeed. However, Kohli wants to enjoy his time and said that he is in a good frame of mind, as of now.

“I think a lot of people have held on to the last tour for too long,” Kohli said. “We’ve had the Champions Trophy as well which has totally been forgotten – I don’t think that was in Bangladesh. I was asked this question when we reached England (what are you looking forward to?), and I said taking a walk and having coffee on the street”. 

Kohli is in a good frame of mind:

“My thinking is very different when I go on a tour, I literally am looking forward to enjoying the country, am not even thinking of the cricket. I know if I’m in a good zone, I will play well. If I think like how people are thinking on the outside, then things don’t happen”.

Virat Kohli will definitely have his work cut out in the English conditions. The Indian team will have to be at the top of their game to savor success in England.

Furthermore, Kohli’s performances will also be under the scrutiny as he had failed to hit the ground running on the 2014 tour.