LONDON: India skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday praised England pacer, Jofra Archer, saying he would be the ‘X factor for hosts at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup beginning from May 30 in England and Wales.
Kohli was speaking during the Captain’s Day in London, alongside the skippers of the other nine teams, when it was put to him that Archer, after being confirmed in England’s final 15-man squad, had said he was eyeing the Indian captain’s wicket. “I’d quite like to get Virat Kohli out because I wasn’t able to in the IPL,” he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
Kohli wasn’t aware of that, but the Indian captain made it a point to laud the all-rounder, who was fast-tracked into the England squad for the tournament, having not played an ODI prior to the naming of their preliminary squad.
“Did he say that? I had no idea? that’s news to me. It’s news to Morgs as well,” Kohli said with a smile. “We don’t really focus on these things. We don’t really focus on whether an individual wants to get you out or whether you’re spoken of more or things like that.
“Our focus is on contributing to the team. I take a lot of pride in performing for the team, and making impact performances in every game. If Jofra said that, it’s a big compliment. Because he himself is a world-class bowler.”
Kohli went on describe his observations of Archer during their clashes in the Indian Premier League. “The way he’s come about in the IPL the last couple of years I’ve seen him, there’s good reason why he was fast-tracked into playing for England in a tournament like the World Cup,” said Kohli. (AGENCIES)
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