Mickey Arthur feels coach-captain tussle has hampered Team India's chances to defend CT title

All is not well in the Indian team with constant reports of a rift between coach Anil Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli – the focus has been on the tussle and that has diverted the attention of the Indian team from the contest to the internal troubles. How much of an impact this will have on the team’s performance is to be seen but Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur feels the issue has certainly hampered the team’s chances of defending their title.

Pakistan team hasn’t found any favour from experts and former cricketers who are clearly expecting the Men in Blue to emerge victorious in the contest. The Green Army has a better record in the Champions Trophy leading India 2-1 but with an experienced line-up at disposal this time round they will find it difficult to get over the line against Virat Kohli & Co.

Coach and captain important

“I don’t know what their problems are but I have always believed that the coach and captain relationship is very important,” coach Arthur said while talking to the media on the eve of the high-voltage encounter.

With the Australian at the helm, the Pakistan is looking to change their mindset and also the approach of the games against India. He wants to bowlers to think about picking wickets and not containing runs. They will come out with attacking strategies to stumble the heavy Indian batting attack.

“Gone are the days of stopping runs. We have to pick wickets and our idea will be to attack the Indian batsmen. Our priority will be to bowl India out,” Arthur added.

Kohli the target

Pakistani skipper Sarfraz Ahmed maintained the same tone as the coach and said, “We have seen before that if the Indian top-order collapses, then they struggle. Our left-arm bowlers will have tricks up their sleeves. The pressure will be on India. We are ranked No.8 and can only go up from here. The pressure will be on India.”

Like most oppositions, Pakistan also wants to target skipper Kohli and believe if they get him out cheap the task will be a lot easier for them. “He is their main batsman and the idea is to get rid of him at the earliest. Our pacers will target him,” Sarfraz said.