Kohli says India building up to 2019 World Cup

Tags: India tour of Sri Lanka 2017, India, Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli, World cup 2019

Published on: Aug 20, 2017

Looking up to the ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on Sunday, Team India skipper Virat Kohli admitted that they will be looking to build up towards the 2019 World Cup.

Looking up to the ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on Sunday, Team India skipper Virat Kohli admitted that they will be looking to build up towards the 2019 World Cup.

"For us, it is about the time frame. It is not about which opposition we are playing. You can't pick and choose. I have never believed in that and we as a team don't believe in that," Kohli was quoted as saying in a Zee News report.

"Two years to go for the World Cup and now is the time to give players certain roles to get into the groove and understand what we need to do," explained Kohli.

On the middle order, the captain said, KL Rahul has one place while the other will be a toss-up between Kedar Jadhav and Manish Pandey.

"KL will definitely be playing in the middle-order. We are not going to be predictable or have a set pattern anymore in terms of what we are going to do in ODI or T20 cricket. Anyone could go anywhere. That's what we are looking to do," Kohli explained.

"Someone like Manish, he has done well and has grabbed his opportunities. He has got a hundred in Australia as well, and we know about his talent and what he brings onto the field as well. He is a superfit guy and has a bright future ahead of him. So he will certainly be backed."

"All three guys will have to compete for two spots in the middle-order. There are no guarantees I would say. As long as there is healthy competition, everyone will keep pushing each other and that is healthy for Indian cricket," the skipper went on to say.

India-Sri Lanka play the first ODI in Dambulla.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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