ICC World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri Optimistic of India Winning the Showpiece Event, Will Dedicate Victory to Indian Soldiers

May 22, 2019 at 10:27 AM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
ICC World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri Optimistic of India Winning the Showpiece Event, Will Dedicate Victory to Indian Soldiers

Team India skipper Virat Kohli is determined to win the upcoming 2019 World Cup which is slated to be played from 30th May to 14th July across England and Wales. The Indian skipper also added that if they win the coveted title, they will surely dedicate it to the Indian soldiers who are the reason why we can survive freely in our homes.

Kohli made these revelations on Tuesday during a press conference before Team India left for England to compete in the 12th edition of the World Cup. Meanwhile, the skipper hailed the services of Indian armed forces and said that they will the World Cup for them this time around.

“We will win the World Cup this time for Indian soldiers. You can get motivated from a lot of sources but I doubt there is any bigger motivation than the soldiers. You cannot compare the role played by you in comparison to the army.

If you proceed with the motivation that you want to achieve something for the army then there is nothing better than that. It may be the case that some players get motivation from their families, but we are sure to get extra motivation from the fact that we want to win the World Cup for the army,” the Indian skipper said.

Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri
Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri. Photo by Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

The Indian skipper further added that rather than getting acclimatized to the conditions in England and Wales, the main plan to handle the expectations will be to remain calm in difficult situations. He added that more than the pitch and the condition the most important factor is handling the pressure at crucial junctures of the game.

“Handling pressure is the most important thing in the World Cup and not necessarily the conditions. All our bowlers are fresh, no one looks fatigued,” Virat Kohli said.

Meanwhile, head coach Ravi Shastri was optimistic that India can lift the 50 overs World Cup for the 3rd time in their history. However, he did agree that the No 2 ODI team in the world won’t take any team lightly and will look to take it one game at a time.

“World Cup might be a stage but the stage is to be enjoyed. If we play to our potential then the trophy might be back here. It’s a strong competition, even Bangladesh and Afghanistan are much stronger than in 2015,” said Shastri.

No more chopping and changing till World Cup: Ravi Shastri

The former Indian all-rounder ad the current head coach of India also feels that MS Dhoni could play a massive role in ensuring India wins their 3rd World Cup. “Dhoni has a massive role. There is no one better than him in this format especially in those little moments which can change the game. He will be a big player in this World Cup,” he said.

Related Article
While MS Dhoni Was My Captain, My Eye Was On Virat Kohli: Ravi Shastri
While MS Dhoni Was My Captain, My Eye Was On Virat Kohli: Ravi Shastri

Feb 10, 2024, 3:34 PM


IND vs ENG: They Came Out And Did Not Keep The Scoreboard Moving – Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen Lambasts Ravichandran Ashwin’s Lack Of Intent
IND vs ENG: They Came Out And Did Not Keep The Scoreboard Moving – Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen Lambasts Ravichandran Ashwin’s Lack Of Intent

Feb 5, 2024, 11:49 AM


IND vs ENG: Cheteshwar Pujara Is Waiting, He Is Grinding It Out At The Ranji Trophy – Ravi Shastri On Shubman Gill’s Poor Form In Test Cricket
IND vs ENG: Cheteshwar Pujara Is Waiting, He Is Grinding It Out At The Ranji Trophy – Ravi Shastri On Shubman Gill’s Poor Form In Test Cricket

Feb 2, 2024, 3:07 PM


Watch: ‘Concerned’ Mark Waugh And Michael Vaughan React To Ravi Shastri’s ‘Dump’ Comment After India’s Collapse
Watch: ‘Concerned’ Mark Waugh And Michael Vaughan React To Ravi Shastri’s ‘Dump’ Comment After India’s Collapse

Jan 5, 2024, 11:56 AM


SA vs IND: Ravi Shastri Disappointed With Rohit Sharma’s Bowling Change On Day 2 Of Centurion Test
SA vs IND: Ravi Shastri Disappointed With Rohit Sharma’s Bowling Change On Day 2 Of Centurion Test

Dec 28, 2023, 2:56 PM


SA vs IND: I Think There Must Be Only Indians Voting In There, No One Else – Ravi Shastri Baffled By Broadcaster’s ODI Team Of The Year
SA vs IND: I Think There Must Be Only Indians Voting In There, No One Else – Ravi Shastri Baffled By Broadcaster’s ODI Team Of The Year

Dec 28, 2023, 2:43 PM