JOIN USThat will perforce transfer a lot of responisbility on those that make the trip, and especially the likes of skipper Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli, all form batsmen during India’s triumphant run at the World Cup.
“I always take every game as a big responsibility because as an international cricketer, you just can’t be complacent or casual about any game you play for India,” Kohli said on Friday when asked if he would be under greater pressure in the Caribbean. “I have always taken every game to be as important as any other game I have played for India. These are going to be no different, I am going to play with the same mindset that I have had for the last one and a half years.
“Obviously, with the senior players not being there, it is an added responsibility,” Kohli went on. “You need to be more wary of how you go. You could say after the World Cup win, our reputation is at stake, but we just want to concentrate on doing the things right on the field and am sure the results will follow. We have a good enough side, we have really talented players and if everyone shares equal amount of responsibiliuty and pressure, I think we are going to come out with good performances.”
Kohli has already flowered under Gambhir, and it was no surprise to hear the 22-year-old heap praise on his Delhi team-mate. “He is a very good captain. He motivates all the players to give their 100 percent in the field, that’s his best quality. His leadership skills are really good because he takes his plans into the field and he obviously has a Plan B as well.
“He has a great temperatment and in pressure situations, he always backs his bowlers and always keeps asking all the team members to give 100 percent in the field, which he does as well. The kind of attitude, the kind of aggresion he has in himself, he channels it to all the players as well.”