Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri Presser highlights: ‘There was no pressure previously, nor there is now,’ Kohli on WTC final

“Have no pressure on me. I just want to take Indian cricket forward. There was no pressure on me previously and nor there is any sort of pressure on me now,” Kohli.

• “Conditions are as potent for New Zealand as they are for us. Conditions in Australia should’ve favoured them too. It’s about how you look at things. If you want us to think that NZ will have an advantage before boarding the flight, then it’s that otherwise we feel we are equal,” said Kohli.

  • “It’s a great opportunity to reflect and relax. Just for the guys to roam around freely, considering that we will have a five-Test series coming. It will give us time to regroup and that is required before an important series like this,” said Kohli when asked about the long gap between WTC final and England series.

    If in 2014, you would have told me that in 2021 I’m going to play the WTC final, I would have had a tough time believing that. I have stopped looking at series as ultimate tasks or goals. It’s about leading the team in the right way,” said Kohli.

    “The Kohli of 2021 is slimmer and fitter and only has five and half thousand more runs,” Shastri on changes in Indian captain.

    • “If you want to spread the T20 game across the globe then this could be a way forward. if you want cricket in Olympics, you need more teams, Shastri after being asked whether two Indian teams playing different formats is the way forward.

      • “In the past we’ve landed three days prior to the schedule and had a great tour. It’s not the first time we’re touring England. It’s all in the mind. We don’t have any issues even with just four practice sessions ahead of the final. We all want to make the most of our opportunities.”

        • ‘Don’t think this is the final frontier or anything. We have worked hard to be reach here. For us, it’s about keeping those standards hard. It’s like football, if you win one Champions League, you don’t stop, you just want to keep winning,” said Virat Kohli.

          • “A best of three final will perhaps be a better thing going ahead. But one-off is a one-off. The guys have earned their rights. This wasn’t built overnight. These guys have been No.1 for a long time,” said Shastri.

            “It’s the first you have a WTC final. When you look at the magnitude of the game, it’s going to be the biggest. It’s a format that Tests you. Teams have played each other around the world and earned the rights to play in the final,” said India head coach Ravi Shastri.

            “I agree. This holds a lot of value. All of us take a lot of pride in playing Test cricket. This is like an accumulation of hard work for all us. Just very happy to play in the finals,” said Virat Kohli.

            • The Indian captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri have joined in. The Press conference begins.