Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli is looking forward to the challenges ahead of him in the ODI World Cup 2023. The 34-year-old will be an important player for the Men in Blue in the World Cup, as he has got the ability to absorb the pressure to deliver goods for the team in the marquee event.
Virat Kohli has been Men in Blue’s best batter in red-ball cricket and white-ball cricket over the years. The Indian batting maestro was a part of India’s victorious 2011 and 2013 Champions Trophy campaigns. He was India’s leading run scorer in the ICC events and captained the Indian team in all three formats for over five years and would be a crucial player for the team’s success in Asia and the ODI World Cup.
Speaking at an event in Bangalore, Virat Kohli is excited to take up the challenge in front of him rather than shying away from it and reckons that he needs to add something new to his arsenal to get himself prepared for the marquee event in India and also emphasized on the expectations from the fans for the World Cup in India and added that players want to win the cup more than anyone in the World.
“Any challenge in front of you, you look forward to it. When difficulty comes in front of you get excited. You don’t shy away from it. After 15 years I still like encounters, and the World Cup 2023 is one (challenge). It excites me, I need something new to, you know, propel me to another level,” Virat Kohli said.
“The pressure is always there. The fans always say we want (the team) to win a cup very badly. I’d like to say no more than me. So, I’m in the right place. Honestly, I know the expectations are there and the emotions of the people are there. But please know that no one wants to win more than players,” Virat Kohli added.
Virat Kohli is a brilliant batter across the three formats of the game, his domination in ODI Cricket has been of a different level altogether. The 34-year-old has smashed three ODI hundreds in 2023 and will continue his form going into the Asia Cup 2023.
I Probably Didn’t Understand The Magnitude Of It – Virat Kohli On Winning 2011 World Cup
Virat Kohli recalled the memories of winning the ODI World Cup in 2011 begin a youngster in the team during the time of World Cup and said that at this stage of his career, he realised the magnitude of the championship of how then senior players badly wanted to win the trophy for India, with Sachin Tendulkar winning the ODI World Cup in home soil.
“My career highlight is winning the World Cup in 2011. I was 23 at the time, and I probably didn’t understand the magnitude of it. But now at 34, and has played many World Cups, which we haven’t been able to win, So, I understand the emotions of all the senior players (in 2011),” Virat Kohli added.
“All the more for Sachin Tendulkar, as it was his last World Cup. He had already played many World Cups by then and to win it in Mumbai, his hometown, was very special for him. I mean, it was stuff from dreams,” Virat Kohli added.
The marquee event is scheduled to be hosted by India from 5 October to 19 November 2023 and the Rohit Sharma-led side will look to put their best foot forward to win the championship on Indian soil as the last three World Cups were won by the hosting nations.