T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli- India skipper Virat Kohli said he will stop playing cricket the day his aggression and intensity decreases on the field.
Kohli lead the Indian side for the last time in T20Is as the Men in Blue registered a thumping win over Namibia to sign off the ongoing T20 World Cup with a victory. Former India skipper Rahul Dravid has been appointed head coach of the senior side and he will take over the reins from Ravi Shastri after the T20 World Cup.
Kohli also thanked Shastri and the support staff for creating a wonderful environment with the Indian camp.
T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli declares, ‘I felt this was the right time to exit T20I captaincy, there is a lot of pressure’
“A big thank you to all those guys (Ravi Shastri and his support staff). They have done a great job over the years, creating such a wonderful environment for the players. People loved to get back to the atmosphere. They have done a really great job,” said Kohli after the win.
“That (his aggression) is never going to change. The day it does, I’ll stop playing cricket.
Even before I became captain, I have always loved to contribute in some way or the other.
Surya didn’t get much game time in this World Cup, so I thought it will be a nice memory to take back. That was the idea (behind not batting himself),” he added.
T20 World Cup: Kohli feels this is the right time to step down from the T20I captaincy to manage his workload. The India skipper also mentioned the “heavy workload” and the pressure it had created on him.
“Relief firstly (on leaving T20I captaincy). It’s been a honor but things need to be kept at the right perspective. I felt this was the right time to manage my workload. It’s been six or seven years of heavy workload and there is a lot of pressure. The guys have been fantastic, I know we haven’t got the results here but we have played some really good cricket,” said Kohli.
T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli declares, ‘I felt this was the right time to exit T20I captaincy, there is a lot of pressure’
“The guys have really made my work easier. The way we played the last three games, it’s a game of margins – T20 cricket these days. Two overs of attacking cricket at the top is what we were missing in the first two games. As I said, we weren’t brave enough in those games and in the group we were in, it was tough,” he added.
No one more disappointed than us as a side: Kohli
India skipper Virat Kohli said the entire team is disappointed at not being able to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue failed to progress to the semi-finals of the World Cup for first time after 2012.
“Together as one, we set out to achieve our goal. Unfortunately, we fell short and no one is more disappointed than us as a side. The support from all of you has been fantastic and we are grateful for it all. We will aim to come back stronger and put our best foot forward. Jai Hind,” tweeted Kohli.
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