Virat Kohli has urged the fans to revel in the unique experience of an India v Pakistan match but insists the players will be treating it just like any other game. The clash is perhaps the most eagerly-anticipated group-stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, with Old Trafford the venue as the countries continue their storied rivalry. The contest will have key implications in the race for the knockout stages as unbeaten India search for a third win in four matches, while Pakistan’s semi-final chances are starting to hang by a thread with two losses already to their name. (Video courtesy: ICC)
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NewsTranscript
00:00 How tough is it for India to prepare and plan for an unpredictable side like Pakistan?
00:14 We know that they have a lot of talent in their team but we know that if we play well
00:23 then we play really well as a team and we saw that in the first two games that we played
00:29 very clinical performances and we just focused on exactly what we need to do.
00:33 We are not focusing too much on what the opposition has to do or what they will bring to the table.
00:39 We need to believe in our strengths and we believe if we play well as a team as I mentioned
00:44 we can beat any side in the world and that's the kind of confidence we have carried in
00:49 the first two games and we want to continue in the same manner in the next whatever coming
00:53 games we have.
00:54 Virat, considering Pakistan's proficiency against spinners and also you may have had
01:01 a look at the wicket so any kind of strategic changes that you are looking at?
01:08 The conditions and the length of the game will obviously make us think about a few combinations
01:16 that we could potentially go in with.
01:21 As I said we are not focusing too much on the strengths of the opposition, the kind
01:25 of spinners and the kind of bowlers that we have in our team.
01:28 It is difficult for any team to just come out and attack these guys straight away.
01:32 There is a certain level of risk involved as well when you have world class bowlers
01:36 bowling at you and you want to go at them.
01:39 I think as I said we need to focus on the things that we do well as a side and the kind
01:44 of combination that we are comfortable with because we back all the players in our team
01:48 and expect them to put in performances and turn up on the day and execute what they are
01:53 best known for.
01:55 But yeah the length of the game and looking at the conditions we will definitely think
01:58 of a few combinations.
02:03 Looking at playing against Australia and how you approach Pakistan which is also a subcontinent
02:09 side and also with the rain threat around, how do you plan it?
02:13 Do you have to plan something different from other matches?
02:17 Look we will have to be flexible, we can't be rigid in our approach because if the conditions
02:21 are very different from what we played in the last game, then we will have to think
02:26 of different combinations, which areas to strengthen when it comes to the bowling attack.
02:32 If pace becomes a more potent option then we will look to explore that.
02:37 If not, if the length of the game is going to be full and we expect the game to be 50
02:44 overs on both sides, then we will probably think of another combination.
02:48 We will have to be flexible, we will have to see how today pans out, how tomorrow the
02:52 conditions are and then I think all players are in a zone to be ready to play.
02:58 So that helps in selecting the combination that you need to depending on what conditions
03:02 you are going to face.
03:03 I would like to ask about tomorrow's match after the weather, who is the real threat
03:08 in Pakistan team for you?
03:10 As I said we are not focusing on the opposition, so for us no one is a threat.
03:14 For us no one player matters more than the other.
03:16 For us it is about going in on to the park as the Indian cricket team and taking on whichever
03:21 team is in front of us.
03:23 If we play well as I said we can beat any side in the world, if you don't play well
03:26 teams are going to come out and beat you.
03:28 So that is how simple the game of cricket is and it should be and in our minds nothing
03:33 changes according to the opposition.
03:35 So we are only focusing on playing the kind of cricket we are known for, not singling
03:39 out any player from the opposition or focusing on one particular player more than the other.
03:43 Virat, from the Champions Trophy onwards time, this is a team we have played not very
03:51 often compared to let's say Australia.
03:54 So how much of a challenge is it to play against the unknown factors, there are some players
03:58 which will change, new players would come in.
04:01 Is it more challenging or how do you approach it?
04:04 I don't see it as a massive challenge because even the teams that you know very well, you
04:10 still have to go out there and play good cricket.
04:13 And if you play good cricket, if you do the basics better than the opponent, then invariably
04:18 in cricket you win.
04:19 Unless someone comes out and creates a match winning, magical performance all by himself,
04:26 more often than not if 11 guys execute what they are supposed to on the field with absolute
04:30 precision and focus, you end up winning the game more often than not.
04:34 So for us it's, as I said, the most important thing and the most crucial thing is to focus
04:40 on us as a team and what our strengths are.
04:44 And we believe that if we do our strengths well, that is good enough for anyone in the
04:48 world and up against anyone in the world.
04:49 So we have to carry that kind of belief and for us then, familiar opposition, unfamiliar
04:55 opposition don't matter because you understand that if you don't play well you don't win.
04:59 And if you play well you can win against anyone.
05:00 So I think our focus will be to do that and do that consistently because it's a long tournament
05:06 and we need to keep playing the kind of cricket we have played in the first two games.
05:09 If you could answer in Hindi or Urdu, how difficult is it to prepare against a team
05:16 that can do anything, if you could answer that in Hindi?
05:20 Yes, preparation, as I said, if you focus on your team's strength, you will win the
05:27 match you play well.
05:28 If you are against any team, if you know them, you know their strengths and weaknesses,
05:33 if you still don't tackle them well, chances of winning are less.
05:38 So cricket is a sport where the basics will always be there, whether you are familiar
05:44 with someone's game or not.
05:45 There is a cover drive, a cover drive, a good ball, a good ball.
05:48 So our focus is always on the basics because that increases our consistent performances
05:53 and if 11 people give a focused performance together, then like I said, you can beat any
05:59 team and if you don't play well on that day, then this sport is such that the other team
06:04 can win.
06:05 So our focus will be to execute our strengths well and play the game like a game and focus
06:12 on the basics and keep our attention precise.
06:15 Thank you.
06:16 [END]
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