Virat Kohli Press Conference Updates: 'This Is The Biggest Prize', Shastri On WTC | Team India Leaves For England
India will play New Zealand in the World Test Championship Final on 18th June 2021. This will be the first time that such a Trophy is being organized by the ICC at the Test level. Check out what Indian captain Virat Kohli has to say before the team leaves for England.
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Background
Mumbai: After spending 14 days in quarantine, Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli are addressing the media before leaving for England.
The World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand will be played at Southampton on 18 June, while India vs England Test series will begin in Nottingham from 4 August. The Ind vs Eng 2nd Test will be played from 12–16 August at the Ladders, the third Test will be played at Leeds from 25–29 August, and the fourth Test will be played at the Oval from 2–6 September and the final Test will be played at Manchester from 10–14 September.
Team India finished as the No. 1 side with 72.2 percentage points to secure their place in the World Test Championship finals, following their 3-1 win against England at home.
The selectors have included Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidha Krishna, Avesh Khan and Arzan Nagwaswalla in the team as standby players. Opening batsman Ishwaran and fast bowler Avesh Khan were also part of team India during the Test series against England.
India’s squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul (subject to fitness clearance), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper; subject to fitness clearance).
India's Road To WTC
India played the following series to reach the WTC Final:
vs West Indies (won 2-0)
vs South Africa (won 3-0)
vs Bangladesh (won 2-0)
vs New Zealand lost (2-0)
vs Australia (won 2-1)
vs England (won 3-1)
WTC Press Conference: The Pres Conference ends
Virat Kohli and Shastri looked extremely confident before leaving for WTC Final. They will play on 18 June 2021.
WTC Press Conference: Kohli Signs Off In Style
"There's no pressure on me. I don't have any pressure on me. I have no ulterior motive, my only aim is to take Indian cricket ahead. What matters for us that we help each other," Captain Kohli signs of in style.
Kohli And Shastri Open Up On Mental Health
"There has to be a channel open, for players to approach the management to tell that I have a problem," Kohli on the mental pressures
"Even the fittest need a break, a mental break. More than the physical part, it the mental part. It's not easy to recover and is important to be mentally fit," says Ravi Shastri
Virat Kohli sounds extremely positive
"We have worked hard for finals!"
"There was no doubt we were gonna be featuring in the WTC Final"
"It's like football, we gotta keep our standards high"
- King Kohli is serious about winning the WTC Final!