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WATCH – Kohli And Shastri Reveals Team India Is Gearing-up For T20 WOrld Cup
By CricShots - Sep 16, 2019 11:43 am
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After witnessing a loss in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2019, the Indian team under the leadership of Virat Kohli is now looking forward to the World Cup in 2020. India will play 17 T20I matches before the next IPL as they are having a road map ahead of the mega event, and begin a three-match T20I series against South Africa on September 15, also the first visitors of the home season.

Kohli
Virat Kohli

They’ve already begun their preparations with a 3-0 whitewash of West Indies in West Indies, their next challenge is a three-match series at home against South Africa.

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Talking about the same, in an interview with BCCI.tv ahead of the first T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala, Kohli said, “There are a lot of T20s and Tests before the T20 World Cup next year and we are pushing youngsters into the system at every possible chance because it is important to finalize on a system. This also gives you an idea as to who are the players who can take the philosophy of the team forward. The focus is on selecting players that can take the team vision forward and maintain it.”

The results are important, but coach Ravi Shastri feels that the team management will also be focusing on grooming youngsters for the shortest format of the game.

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The head coach explained, “We are clear about the fact that youngsters must take their chances. When I broke into the team I did not get 15 chances, you get five maybe and you have to take it because that’s the level we are playing at. So those coming into the team must have that mental make-up. I knew in my head that I have to make the most of the three or four chances to and I never thought that I should get so many chances to ease into the team.”

Shastri
Ravi Shastri

Kohli, who has known to find an apt balance between experimenting with youth and playing solely to win is not only a challenge but also a necessity, acknowledged that the team was happy to be back in their own backyard for the home season. Recently retained in his position of coach of the Indian team, Shastri agreed with his captain and said that the experiences on the road will help the Indian team at home.

Shastri elaborated, “It is nice when you play many teams and what will help is the hard yards you’ve put in last year. Living out of a suitcase in India and outside is like chalk and cheese. We were out for more than 200 days and that experience of playing many teams will come in handy. At home, you’re familiar with the conditions, but those oppositions will be back and the experience will count.”