“It will become weakness if we pay excessive attention to it” – Virat Kohli wants to use lofty expectations of fans as advantage

It is well known that India’s cricket team has a huge fan following. Virat Kohli reckons that lofty expectations can become a weakness if they pay excessive attention to it. Kohli wants to use the crowd support to the team’s advantage and not take extra pressure because of it.

India last won a major ICC title back in 2013 when MS Dhoni’s team lifted the Champions Trophy in England. Since then, India has performed consistently in the big events but has failed to bring their best in the knockout matches. 

Speaking to Star Sports, Virat Kohli said, “I won’t say it’s not realistic to expect that people don’t have hope or expectations from us. Cricket is looked at differently in our country; it’s our strength as well. It will become weakness if we pay excessive attention to it. I think we should look at it as our strength and take motivation and energy from it, that we have so many fans behind us who want us to do well.”

Virat Kohli was once again at his absolute best for RCB, scoring 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69 in IPL 2024. Kohli ended the tournament as the highest run-getter and bagged the Orange Cap award. Thus, he played an instrumental role in taking RCB to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer wants Virat Kohli to open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the T20 World Cup.

Jaffer wrote on X, “Kohli & Jaiswal should open in the World Cup imo. Rohit & SKY should bat 3&4 depending on the start we get. Rohit plays spin really well so batting at 4 shouldn’t be a concern. #T20WorldCup #INDvPAK #INDvIRE”

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5th.