WTC Final: Playing against a solid opponent but we know what to do, says Virat Kohli

Team India skipper Virat Kohli is well aware of the challenge that his side will face in the final of the maiden edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) when they take on New Zealand. However, he is looking to not get too bothered about the same, preferring to focus on putting his best foot forward. Kohli admitted that the Indian and New Zealand players enjoy a great relationship off the field. However, he believed that the same will take a back seat when the players step out to the ground at the Ageas Bowl.

“We play a certain brand of cricket ourselves. For us, we are playing against a team that is a solid opponent. Off the field, we get along well. On the field, we are very professional and we know what we need to do,” he said in an interaction with reporters before the final in Southampton.

“Me and Kane (Williamson) have become friends over the last few years but when you step across the line you want to get him out as soon as possible. The camaraderie is off the field. But on the field we are professionals,” added Kohli.

The Team India skipper believes that even a defeat in the final will not have any impact on his team’s achievements.

“The one-off Test is not going to reflect the truth. But the reality is what have done over the last 4-5 years. We are focussing on our processes. For me, this is another match that has to be played. Very exciting for those on the outside. As a team we will continue with our quest for excellence. We know what we want to do. We won the 2011 World Cup but life goes on. The occasion has to be treated in the same way. The mindset remains the same. For us it is a contest between bat and ball,” he stated.

WTC Final: Just another match to be played

Kohli feels that the WTC final will just be another match that has to be played.

“No (is it the biggest match for you?). For me, this is just a Test match that has to be played. I think these things are very important from the outside because there is so much importance to other extra stuff attached to one game and it sort of becomes do and die. For us, as a team, we have been on a quest for excellence for a while now and we are going to continue to be on that path regardless of what happens in this game. We totally understand who we are as a team and the kind of cricket we have played so we have no doubts whatsoever about our ability,” he said.

The Team India skipper stated that the players were focussing on the six Tests set to be played in England, rather than simply the WTC final.

“We didn’t come here for the one-off Test. We are here to play 6 Tests till the England summer ends. The first of the 6 Tests begins tomorrow. It’s not like if we win the Test, we will look to change the plans or change our way of playing. Our players know their strengths very well and they know how to use it over the next 6 Tests. We think very differently from what others on the outside perceive. We have created a process to strive for excellence and we are heading towards that. This is why people like Rohit, Shubman and Pant went for an attacking game in Australia. Many thought we could have gone for the draw but our thinking is different. This is the divide in thinking I am talking about,” he concluded.