Everyone Wants to See an India-England Final, Says Virat Kohli

“If both teams play well, people might get what they want to see,” said India skipper Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli said “everyone wants to see an India-England final”. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Indian Cricket Team)

With India through to the Champions Trophy 2017’s knockout stage, captain Virat Kohli says opposition hardly matters in the tournament’s semi-final and final, even though an India-England final is what everybody seems to want.

India will take on Bangladesh in the second semi-final on Thursday after England and Pakistan play out the first last-four clash on Wednesday.

It would not have mattered who we were playing in the semis. The league phase is the toughest. We have an opportunity to win one game and enter the finals. Everyone wants to see an India-England final. If both teams play well, people might get what they want to see.

Virat Kohli

Asked which team he would prefer to come up against in the finals, he added:

Anyone. We would just be happy to be in the finals.

India cricketers at the Lord’s Cricket Ground with Indian High Commission officials. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Indian Cricket Team)

The Indian cricket captain was joined by some of his teammates, including former captain MS Dhoni, and coach bowler Anil Kumble at a special reception at the Lord's Cricket Ground on Monday evening.

The event was hosted by the Indian High Commission to mark the UK-India Year of Culture.

Also Read: In Pics: Virat Kohli & Co Attend Indian High Commission Dinner

Kohli said it was a treat to be welcomed by “massive crowds wherever we play”.

If there is a sunny day in England, there is no better place to play cricket. The white ball hasn’t historically swung as much here. When the clouds come in, the conditions become a bit more difficult.

He added:

You have to respect the conditions here regardless of what score you are batting at. That is the beautiful thing about playing here, it challenges you as a batsman.

The reception marked the launch of 'Cricket Connects' exhibition, which opens at the Nehru Centre in London and will be touring Edinburgh and Birmingham as a celebration of cricketing ties between India and the UK.

What better way to connect than cricket. Everyone is hoping for an India-England final at The Oval in this special UK-India Year of Culture. May the better team win.

Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, Indian High Commissioner to the UK

The reception was attended by a number of former India and England cricket personalities, including Farookh Engineer, Dilip Doshi and former England players Andrew Strauss and Monty Panesar.

(With inputs from PTI.)

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