CT 2017: If Yuvi plays the same way, you know the team is in good space, says Virat Kohli

Team India brutally thrashed their opposition Pakistan in their first game of the ICC Champions Trophy. The way they outplayed the opposition was something that the other teams would now take notice of. With the bat, the top four batsmen hit fifties with skipper Virat Kohli remaining unbeaten on 81. The much needed final flow was given by veteran batsman Yuvraj Singh who smashed a quickfire fifty towards the end.

In the post match press conference, the Indian skipper spoke at length about how the innings played by Yuvraj gave them the momentum in the game. Virat Kohli called it a game-changing innings. He remarked that it was the hitting ability of Yuvraj that gave the other batsmen the confidence to go out and express themselves. He commended the southpaw for putting away the good deliveries for boundary shots.

“The way Yuvi batted, it was the game-changing innings, to be honest. That gave all of us the confidence to start striking the ball well. The way he batted was the way only he can strike the ball Hitting low full-tosses for fours and sixes, and even digging out yorkers for fours, was outstanding,” quoted Virat Kohli.

On how Yuvi’s knock helped him settle in

Talking about his own innings, he noted that he did not try anything new. He stated that he tried to ease himself in the game pretty much until he reached the 40-run mark. Most players took their time to settle in. But Yuvraj started to take the attack right from the word go and that helped in putting the opposition on the backfoot. Also, Yuvraj’s attacking show gave Kohli the time to settle in.

“I think till 40, I was easing into the game, taking my ones and twos like I always do. I could not go for the big ones because it was tricky. We went off about four times. And we came back in, and so as a player who likes to play the long innings till the end and usually plays like that for the team, it becomes very difficult to find momentum every time you come back and all you got to do is play yourself in again,” said the Indian skipper.

“When Yuvi came in, we didn’t go back out again. So, he started striking from ball one and, as I said, that took pressure off me, and maybe I should have given him strike. That really deflated the opposition and that gave me a bit of time to settle in from the other end. When he got out, I took over. But I think his innings was a difference in the game,” he added further.

Subtle warning to the other teams

Commenting further on the same note, Virat Kohli issued a subtle warning to the other teams. He pointed out if Yuvraj continues to play innings such as those, then the Indian team will be in a happy place in the tournament. The team is keen on backing Yuvi at the number 4 slot.

“If he plays like that you know the team is always in a good space because you can really rely on him to come in and just play a match-changing innings, more often than not. And he will end up doing it three out of five times. That’s why we back him at that spot,” said Kohli.

Getting quick runs

Lastly, he admitted that he backed himself to flourish towards the end of the innings. He had the confidence in his ability that if he stays till the end, he can get those quick runs for the team. All that mattered at that instance of time was to stay patient.

“I decided to stay still and just back the strokes that I have, and a few connected, and that’s what happens in this sport. Momentum comes your way, it goes away, but you’ve got to stay patient. And when it comes back, you’ve got to capitalise on it. So I believe in myself, I can get 30 of 10 balls as well in the end. And it was just showing a bit more composure,” conceded Virat Kohli.