Will look to push harder against South Africa: Virat Kohli

After two out of three league stage games, India has a win and a loss in their bag. Being a cakewalk against Pakistan to disastrous defeat against Sri Lanka, India will play South Africa in a virtual quarter-final on Sunday (11th June).

After posting mammoth 321 runs on the board, India asked Sri Lanka to chase it down. Being favourites of many to win this game and being high on confidence were proven wrong by Islanders. Enthralling innings by Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis assured them a victory.

Virat Kohli lauded Sri Lanka’s performance:

At the post- match presentation, Virat Kohli lauded Sri Lanka’s performance with bat and despite of disastrous loss he said that his team was not “invincible” and he personally thought that 322 was enough at Oval wicket.

He said, “I personally thought that we had enough on the board at the halfway stage. And I think our bowlers also bowled decently well. If the Lankan batsmen come out and play like that and everyone plays well, you have to give credit to the opposition as well. We are not invincible. We are playing against other sides who are also champion sides (in their own rights).”

Kohli said that rather than criticising the bowling effort by his team, he will take a moment to applaud Sri Lanka’s batsmen.

“If a side comes out there and plays cricket with that kind of mindset and executes their shots so well, then you have to take your hat off sometimes and say ‘very well played’.”

Virat too believes that now it’s a do or die situation against South Africa and the team which wins will further qualify for the semi-finals. “Yes, it’s become very exciting. Virtually every game is a quarter-final now. In our group especially, all teams are on two points, and you have to win your next game to go through, which is, I think, an exciting position to be in for all teams,” he said

Two virtual quarter-finals:

Talking from tournaments perspective he said that it will be a great scenario for fans to witness two quarter-finals which will even be more competitive.

“And for everyone involved in the tournament and the fans as well, I think, it’s a great scenario where you literally have two quarter-finals now which is going to be even more competitive cricket. So we are pretty clear about the whole situation, and, it certainly has opened up the whole table for sure.”

Will look to push harder against South Africa:

After the bowling collapse against Sri Lanka, the batsman will look to push harder and add 20 runs extra against South Africa to stay in contention. “From the batting point of view, as I said, I thought we paced it well. I thought we had enough on the board. In hindsight, when you look back, maybe you think of phases that we could have accelerated, but I don’t see that as a major issue.

“Maybe, we will have to push harder now in the next few games to give us a 20-run cushion after a result like this. This is because we are playing on the same ground (Oval) as well (in the next match)” he concluded.