Adelaide: Describing India’s clinical win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the World Cup match here on Sunday as one of the biggest in his career, star batsman Virat Kohli said that he was happy to have played his part in the “amazing” victory.
“Probably one of the biggest win in my career so far. Amazing way to begin our World Cup. Big game against Pakistan and it was an amazing fight,” Kohli, who was adjudged man-of-the-match for his crafty 107, said after India won the game by 76 runs at the Adelaide Oval.
“Expectations are going to be there when you do well for your country. I just look to stand up to those because I hate to lose, and I play passionately. I like the pressure and the expectations,” he added.
Talking about the pressure of playing Pakistan, that too in a World Cup match, where India have so far won all the six games against their arch rivals, Kohli said, “Last couple of days have been too tough. Too many people in the hotel getting worked over. You just have to stay in your little space.”
It was a patient yet authoritative knock from Kohli, which he built brick-by-brick rather than playing scintillating shots. It wasn’t a flurry of fours but liberal sprinklings of ones and twos with the boundaries interspersed in-between.
Asked about his innings, Kohli said the team management has assigned roles to every player for this World Cup and he was performing his part.
“We have discussed about roles of each player. My role in the team is to bat through, and the power-hitters can play around knowing that one end is secure. The way Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina batted today is commendable,” he said.
The 26-year-old vice-captain thanked the Indian fans for their support and expressed hope that they would continue to do that.
“The support has been magnificent. We expect the same throughout the tournament. Too loud at times for MS (Dhoni) to catch our attention.”
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised his batsmen for putting up a stiff total. (PTI)
