World Test Championship Final Won't Be Our Focus As It Cost Us Series In NZ: Virat Kohli
India won't make the mistake of focussing on the World Test Championship (WTC) final which cost them the series in New Zealand in February 2020, and would instead try to win the Test matches again
India won't make the mistake of focussing on the World Test Championship (WTC) final which cost them the series in New Zealand in February 2020, and would instead try to win the Test matches against England, said India skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday.
"In New Zealand, we did discuss it (WTC final) a bit and that could have added extra pressure on us to do everything so precisely. We ended up being under pressure a little bit. But from Australia onwards, it was all about following a good process, preparing well, going out there and just understanding the situation and making sure we play according to the situation," said Kohli while speaking to the media on the eve of the first Test against England beginning Friday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
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"In this Australia series, we didn't speak of winning because of WTC. I think it is a by-product of your team doing well anyway. There's no point adding extra pressure. For us it remains a game of cricket, one session at a time. One hour at a time. That is how success is achieved in the longest format of the game.
"So no point thinking about something that is still months. It is important to stay in the present and take one day at a time and move forward," he added.
Kohli, who will return to lead the national side after the paternity leave, said he was impressed by India youngsters and newcomers like Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, and Navdeep Saini performing well in Australia and said that the team's strategy of going for the win overseas and keep draw as only the last option is what helped them do well and help India win the last Test in Brisbane.