Our goal is to win the World Cup, have no idea regarding what's happening on the coach front: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, on Saturday (October 16), said that India’s aim is to win the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled in the United Arab Emirates and Oman between October 17 and November 14. He admitted that he has “no idea regarding what is happening on the coach front” and that “we have not had any detailed discussions with anyone.”

Kohli’s comments come in the aftermath of certain recent reports suggesting the likelihood of Rahul Dravid taking up the coaching duty of India after incumbent head coach Ravi Shastri’s term ends. Shastri, who has been the permanent in charge of the senior men’s team since 2017, has clarified that the coming World Cup will be his last assignment, while other support staff members including India’s bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar are also expected to vacate their posts.

“Look, I mean our goal is to win the World Cup. I have no idea regarding what is happening on the coach front, we have not had any detailed discussions with anyone. said Kohli during Captain’s Call organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. “But winning the T20 World Cup is our goal like any other team. But I think what we have been able to create over the last 5-6 years is beyond titles and beyond tournaments.”

“We have created a culture which I think will last for a long time where people want to be the best they can be when they enter the team, the fittest they can be. That culture we have driven with utmost passion and honesty which we hope will continue to be the case in the years to come.

“Winning an ICC title will definitely be a wonderful moment for all of us, it will be an amazing achievement. We are motivated to do so, we will give it our everything.”

For a young team to achieve what they did was very special’ – Kohli on India’s 2007 T20 WC triumph

Kohli termed India’s triumph in the 2007 T20 World Cup as inspirational. “I would not say that the 2007 T20 World Cup win was unexpected but no one really knew about the tournament, after the title win the emergence of IPL was something that changed the game completely.”

“But that World Cup we fondly remember watching, keenly watching that young team achieving things at the world stage and as I said, we understood the impact of that win few years down the line when T20 cricket became as big as it has. For a young team to achieve what they did was very special, it was inspirational. It gave me more belief that I could perform at the highest level at such a young age.”

India will begin their 2021 campaign on October 24 in Dubai against Pakistan.