Star batsman Virat Kohli urged his team-mates to stay calm on Tuesday amid growing fervour about India’s prospects in the World Twenty20, ahead of the host’s tricky tournament opener against New Zealand.
After winning 10 of their last 11 Twenty20 internationals, India are red-hot favourites for the World Twenty20.
But Kohli, who is sometimes regarded as something of a firebrand, tried to put a dampener on expectations in a press conference on the eve of the match in Nagpur and said it was important not to get carried away.
“I think the key is to learn from the past where calmness is required in big tournaments like the ICC events because you can get sort of carried away or over anxious or over excited,” Kohli said yesterday.
“Both those feelings are not great for any side going into a big tournament.
The Run Machine in action - @imVkohli #IND at #WT20https://t.co/A45rr3FXcG
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“What we’ve learned from playing in big tournaments in the past is that we have to stay as calm as possible and focus on the skills that need to be executed on the field.”
India have a woeful track record against the Black Caps in Twenty20 internationals, losing all four of their previous encounters.
And although New Zealand have been undermined by inspirational skipper Brendon McCullum’s retirement on the eve of the tournament, their performance in warm-up matches shows they are not lacking for firepower.
They thrashed the holders Sri Lanka last Thursday when Colin Munro, Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott all posted half-centuries in rapid time. Skipper Kane Williamson then smashed an entertaining 63 when New Zealand narrowly lost to England in their final warm-up match on Saturday.
India enter this match on the back of a setback, a four-run loss to South Africa in a high-scoring match in Mumbai on Saturday.
With their powerful openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma hitting a purple patch, and the veteran Yuvraj Singh also in good nick, India will be backing themselves to post or chase big totals on a batsman-friendly pitch in Nagpur.
Kohli, in top form himself, said rookie Indian bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya would also be crucial to the outcome, saying they had showed few signs of nerves in their fledgling international careers.
“Players like Hardik and Bumrah they have more confidence than when we started out,” said Kohli, who is also India’s Test captain.
“They have performed in different situations and they have brought that confidence with them into the side. They have backed their skills and I think this is what has been the x-factor for us.”
Like many of his fellow skippers, Williamson believes that India are the team to beat but says his side – which is still to win a world cup – do not lack in belief.
“No doubt India will be possibly the favourites for this tournament but I think all the teams will come here thinking they can win it,” he said last week.
