India have been playing against South Africa in the final Test at Ranchi. However, they have won the previous two Tests and looking for a whitewash right now. Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri have shared they have a couple of new plans for the upcoming ICC World Cup.
“The T20 World Cup in 2020 is a big focus for us, and it’s important that we use the next 12 months to place ourselves in the best possible position to compete for another major ICC trophy. Our players will be really motivated to take their opportunities when they get selected for T20I matches to put themselves forward for the T20 World Cup, as we want to have a settled team combination by the time we get to Australia,” Virat Kohli said.
“India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 when the format was new and the future a bit unknown. Since then, T20 cricket has truly come of age and it would be an honour to be the second Indian captain to lift the T20 World Cup trophy, and hopefully the third if the Indian women can win it earlier in 2020,” added Kohli.
On the other hand, Defending champions West Indies, have been going through a transition phase but Kieron Pollard hopes they will also do well in the mega event.
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“We have to play well as a team in order to be competitive. We will be looking forward to it. A couple keys to defending the title are playing well and playing consistently. We are a confident team, we back our strengths – one of which is our six-hitting ability – but also mixing that sort of aggression and that awesome power with smart, intelligent cricket as well. I think these will be keys – the grounds will be big and you will have to be smart to get over the line. No secrets, we haven’t done too well in the last year are so. Our rankings have dropped. But we have some exciting talent in the Caribbean and we are looking forward to defending that title,” Pollard explained.
England captain Eoin Morgan believes his team are capable enough to win the title.
“Our white-ball focus now shifts to next year’s ICC T20 World Cup. With one year to go, the team is ready to build on our exploits over the past few months,” Morgan said.
Hosts Australia are also in the race of winning the title and Captain Aaron Finch led the team to the semi-finals at the ODI World Cup earlier in the year and believes they have the ability to win the title.
“It’s the one global trophy that has eluded the men’s team so far and we won’t get a better opportunity than on home soil next year. Anyone can beat anyone on their day in T20 cricket so it’s going to be exciting tournament that will have a number of teams believing they can win,” Finch noted.
