'It' important for top four to score'

Kohli keen to continue his good run in IPL

At the Chinnaswamy stadium on Thursday evening, Kohli was a picture of poise as he spoke on various issues, getting straight to the heart of the matter and seldom beating around the bush.

At number three, he has been in brilliant form for the Royal Challengers and carried the batting. Asked if there was too much pressure of expectations on the top four, he countered, “Well, there should be. If you look at the top four, it’s Dilshan, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and me. We are international  cricketers and obviously the team would look up to us. It’s important for us to score for the team to do well because if you don't lay a platform, it will be difficult for the guys coming down the order.

“Any team that loses early wickets which are their main players, they haven't really come back and regrouped apart from Mumbai Indians who bat really deep. For a team stronger up the order, it’s important for the top four to perform every match. Not necessarily all four of them, but if one or two up the order perform in every match, there is good chance of making it to the semifinals.”

Kohli admitted that coming as early as a week after the Worrld Cup, the IPL was physically and mentally taxing, especially on the senior players. “It certainly has an effect on players,” he agreed. “Personally, physical stress is not a big matter for me because I have age on my side. For the seniors, it is natural for the body to feel tired playing the high intensity T20 game, particulary after a high-pressure event like the World Cup where, playing at home, we took so much pressure. It is really difficult to regroup, it takes a bit of time. But now it is picking up, the table is getting interesting and everyone is getting into the groove.”

The Challengers’ practice session in the evening was restricted to football as rains forced their nets to be cancelled, while Friday’s opponents Pune Warriors didn’t arrive until very late in the evening. “We have won three and lost three so far,” Kohli pointed out. “It is important to pick up the momentum because we know that losing three matches on the trot is not a nice feeling. We have the momentum with us right now afer winning two matches and have the home advantage now, but we won't be complacent. We will stay focussed. It is easy to relax but to focus on the job is a difficult and challenging process.We have to be alert all the time in IPL.”