We don't want to be predictable in the 2019 World Cup: Virat Kohli

Indian skipper Virat Kohli couldn’t have asked for more, as his side cleaned up the Sri Lankans at their backyard in both Tests and ODIs. India won the Test series 3-0 and handed a white wash to the hosts and wrapped up the limited overs series in a similar fashion. Kohli stressed on the importance of transparency in the team and added that each of players will be tested in different stages.

The Sri Lankan side hardly made things tough for the Indian side, as opener Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and the rest put in their best against the island nation. With 2019 world cup in mind, the skipper believes that the core group is pretty much sorted. And he also complimented the side for taking up the challenges in the best manner.

“The best thing is transparency. We will address it and tell them that this is a bunch of 20-25 people, who will make the probable-list for the World Cup and everyone has an equal opportunity to be tested at different stages,” Kohli said at the end of the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Tough challenge for spinners

Kohli also added that it will be a tough challenge for all the spinners, who aspire to earn a world cup berth. “It’s going to be a challenge among all the bowlers and the spinners that are going to be in the part of the bigger group to make it to the 2019 World Cup. As I said, we don’t want to be predictable in any way and we want to have an X factor if possible with the bowling attack as well,” he added.

“The best thing about this team is they are very sporting and they accept things quickly and embrace the challenges. They take it as a challenge rather than getting disappointed and sulking, start working hard on that aspect of their game and make it happen for the team. So I am quite lucky that I have a bunch of players that do not oppose anything that the management and me as captain address to them. It makes my job a lot easier,” explained Kohli.

Important series

“We will find the core group for World Cup quickly only if the guys perform in the next couple of big series coming up because then the mindset becomes different of taking anyone anywhere in the world. So I think those series will be very important for us to find the right balance as a team,” Kohli said referring to the upcoming Australia and New Zealand series.

The skipper also added that the team should be flexible and there should be a certain amount of unpredictability, going into the World Cup. “We need to find an XI that is flexible enough to try different batsmen at different positions or play bowlers who can bat a bit, along with having the best fielding side on the park. We don’t want to be predictable till the lead up to the World Cup and in the World Cup.