Glad I didn’t play county cricket, 110 percent fit for UK tour now, says Virat Kohli

The Virat Kohli-led Indian team will play two T20Is against Ireland that would be followed by three T20Is, three ODIs and five Test matches against England.

India will play five Tests in England. (Source: PTI)

The Indian cricket team is all set to travel to England and Ireland for its crucial away tour. The Virat Kohli-led Indian team will play two T20Is against Ireland from June 27 which would be followed by three T20Is, three ODIs and five Test matches against their English counterparts. The five-match Test series will also provide a rare opportunity for Kohli and his men to forge a victory and assert their supremacy in the longer format of the game. Ahead of their departure, skipper Virat Kohli asserted that long break after IPL has helped him rejuvenate and get ready for the month-long tour.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Kohli said, “The strategy will be the same as it was during the tour to South Africa, Sri Lanka. Our mindset doesn’t change on the basis of one series. We have patience and the focus is on how to win matches.”

“Our endeavour in every series will be the same. We won’t change any strategy because we are playing in any other nation. For us, an opposition is an opponent. Our aim is to strive for consistency,” added Shastri.

Addressing concerns surrounding his fitness, the Indian skipper said, “I am 100 percent ready to go. I have had a good practice. Body is feeling fine. These sort of breaks really help and keep you mentally fresh.”

“In hindsight, not playing county cricket was the best thing to happen at that moment. Although I wanted to experience the conditions, that’s a place where we haven’t played so much. There is a big gap of four years. I wanted the damp conditions to acclimatize.”

“But when I look at it now, if I was 90 percent with my body attempted to get used to the conditions, now I am 110 percent and I would much rather be in this position. I need to be fresh and that was the best thing to happen. I am excited to go on the field again.”

Talking about the pitch and the conditions, head coach Ravi Shastri on Friday suggested that every game is a home game for the Indian team as they try to read the pitch properly and not the opponents.

“Every series is important. Every game is home game for us because we play the pitch and not the opponent. The boys know they will be rated if they attack the conditions and perform well,” Shastri said at the team’s press conference.

Captain Virat Kohli added that the side is looking forward to traveling and perform in different conditions. “When we were playing the Test series in South Africa, initially people thought we were outplayed but then the third Test happened and it was followed by the limited overs matches. People can’t see the small things but we as a team know how we did. We are a team looking forward to traveling to other countries and perform.”