Virat wants more extra runs on the board

The defending Champions got a huge blow after tasting defeat from Sri Lanka on Thursday in Match 8 of ICC Champions Trophy 2017

The match that could have been an entry ticket for India in Semi-finals has turned things other way around. The Virat’s side has put a grand 321/6 score in 50 overs for their opponent. The score seemed farfetched for Sri Lanka whose previous record was not so good. But the attitude with which the Sri Lankans have come onto the crease was exemplary. It’s seemed like they were chasing a low scoring total till the end.

Not only Sri Lanka registered the win but also opens the tournament for all four teams in group B. They also seal the highest successful chase in the Champions Trophy.

The Indian Captain Virat kohli was not happy after a seven-wicket loss against Sri Lanka on Thursday and now wants batsmen to push hard for extra 20 runs when they take on South Africa in virtual quarter-finals on Sunday.

“From the batting point of view, I thought we paced it well. I thought we had enough on the board. In hindsight, when you look back, maybe you think of phases that we could have accelerated, but I don’t see that as a major issue,” Kohli said.

“May be, we will have to push harder now in the next few games to give us a 20-run cushion after a result like this. This is because we are playing on the same ground (Oval) as well (in the next match),” he added in the post match press interview.

When he was asked as to how he will lift the team after the demoralising defeat, Kohli said he would treat it just like he would have treated a batting collapse.

“It is like a batting collapse. When you collapse as a batting unit, you don’t sit down and think your life is over. You just move on and say it’s a bad day. Forget about it.
“That’s what. In a Test match, you have a lot to think about because the game goes on for five days,” he said.

“But I think in shorter format, you have to forget it and move on. As for people’s perception — we can’t sit here and think of what people perceive us to be or what people had expected of us as a team.”

Indian team surely has the best line up that anybody wants in a team but yesterday’s defeat shows that a team has to work in synergy not only batsmen or not only bowlers can win the match for you. It is the combined effort of bowling, batting, fielding and run outs which India missed particularly in match against Sri Lanka that makes you Winner and world Champion.

If you can play great cricket like Sri Lanka has done the other day you can beat the best team in the world even with inexperience players. There two games between Pakistan – South Africa and India – Sri Lanka has taught many young talents a great lesson.