It Is Important To Remain Calm, Says Virat Kohli Ahead Of Champions Trophy Final

Playing his first ICC tournament as captain, Virat Kohli has done exceedingly well, leading India to the final of the Champions Trophy. But anything less than the trophy is rarely accepted by the fans of this cricket-crazy nation and Kohli is under no illusion of the huge expectations.

Kohli was appointed India’s limited-overs skipper earlier this year and although he came out with flying colors in his first assignment when he led the Men in Blue to a 2-1 series against England, the Champions Trophy was seen as his first real assignment. And the way he has led the team so far, it will be safe to say that he has exceeded all the expectations. A proven player at the highest stage of the game, Kohli has already proved his mettle as a captain in the Test arena and is ready for the high-octane clash against Pakistan on Sunday (June 18).

“I know there are expectations and want the team to do well. You can’t ignore the expectations. I’m sure I’ll be fine for tomorrow,” Kohli said on the eve of the final.

The final is bound to cause some nerve among the players and moreover the match being a high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, players might feel a bit tensed. However, Kohli has urged for calmness from his teammate. The defending champions have showcased a magnificent brand of cricket and Kohli is not willing to change it for the summit clash.

“It is important to remain calm in such situations. Don’t need to get distracted. It sounds funny, but the biggest learning is to stay off social media. For us the final is another cricket match. Not looking to change too many things, at this particular stage,” he said.

When asked about playing in crunch situations, India’s batting mainstay said that he has the confidence to pull his team out of tough situations. Kohli arrived in England after some indifferent outing in the Test series against Australia and the Indian Premier League but has got back to his best in the ongoing tournament, scoring three big half-centuries in 4 matches to amass 253 runs.

“I visualize a lot, see myself in difficult situations convincing that I can pull the team out in those situations,” he added.