New players have to prove themselves in four to five chances, says Virat Kohli

India are in the middle of a team-building process that started off following their disappointing outing in the ICC World Cup in May-July. The Men in Blue are now looking forward to the T20 World Cup in Australia later in 2020 and with a big pool of players to choose from, the captain has drawn the lines. Skipper Virat Kohli has said the new players who would be picked have four to five opportunities to prove their worth.

Speaking ahead of his team’s first T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala that got washed out on Sunday, Kohli said the same had applied even for himself when he started. The 30-year-old made his India debut in 2008 and has seen a phenomenal run with over 20k runs scored across three formats with 68 international hundreds.

‘When I came in team, I didn’t think I will get 15-20 games’

“We are very clear. It is not that anyone will get 30 chances. Even when I came in the team, I didn’t think I will get 15-20 games and I knew I will mostly get chances in three to five games and I have to prove myself. One will get suppose five chances and he will have to prove himself. That is the level we are playing at. As the team management has that mindset, the individual should also have the same,” Kohli was heard saying while speaking during an interaction on bcci.tv.

The 2007 world champions in T20Is will be playing around 30 T20Is before the T20 World Cup. About the number of games that each player would get, Kohli said the management would figure it out. “It is a delicate balance to strike but as we have 30 games before it (World Cup), so we have to figure out how much time each individual gets,” the ace batsman added.

When being asked whether the T20I series against the Proteas marks the beginning of India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup next year, Kohli said along with it, the ongoing ICC World Test Championship is also being kept under consideration.

“We feel both the T20Is and the Test championship are in our focus as both of them are milestones and that is why youngsters are being pushed in from time to time as it is important to settle the team combination because we have to figure out the guys who will take the team forward,” Kohli stated.

India are currently on top of the points table in the World Test Championship with 120 points picked from the recent two-Test series against the West Indies. They will next take on South Africa in a three-game series at home and Kohli and Co. will look to maintain the lead.

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