Pick & choose before cutting loose

London, May 23

India captain Virat Kohli would pick South African skipper Faf du Plessis in his side if he ever got a chance to pick someone from the other participating teams in the World Cup.

All the 10 captains were given a hypothetical situation wherein they could pick any player from the other side and there were some interesting responses with answers ranging from Jasprit Bumrah to Rashid Khan. “It is very difficult to choose someone. We feel we are such a strong side. But if I have to choose one from the current lot...since AB de Villiers is retired now, I would choose Faf du Plessis,” said Kohli at the official captains’ media conference. Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza picked Kohli to be a part of his side. Pointing towards Kohli, Mortaza said: “I would choose that guy.”

Du Plessis preferred to pick bowlers rather than batsmen but when asked if he would not like to have Kohli in his team, the South African said “Virat is my batting team”. “I will pick a few players, mainly bowlers. For bowling attack...Jasprit Bumrah, he is bowling really well at the moment. As Virat said, he is a multi-format bowler. Then there is exciting spinner Rashid Khan, Pat Cummins from Australia. Team that will go till the end of the tournament will be the ones that do well with the ball. Bowlers who have capabilities of taking wickets,” said du Plessis. New Zealander Kane Williamson agreed with his South African counterpart, saying bowlers will play a key role. “Bowlers will play a big part and I would love to have Rashid Khan in my team,” said Williamson.

Morgan says ‘no change’

England’s Eoin Morgan said: “I won’t change anything about my team. Ponting is part of Australia’s coaching side, so I would take Ricky Ponting.”

Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed picked up Jos Butler, while Australian Aaron Finch went for Proteas strike bowler Kagiso Rabada. “Rabada is one guy who has amazing energy. He is a superstar,” said Finch. The choice of Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne was Ben Stokes. “He (Stokes) is a game changer. We know what he can do.” — PTI

Stock reply on India vs Pak tie

On the India-Pakistan match, Kohli and Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed were asked how they will approach the high-pressure game. And their reply was a stock one. “Look, India versus Pakistan is always a very, very anticipated match but we keep saying again and again. For us, it is just another game you need to win as a team. Yes it brings pressure because the atmosphere in the stadium is very different and as I said you only experience that till the time you start competing in the game. As soon as you get into it,  it is a game of cricket for all of us,” said the India captain as Sarfaraz nodded in agreement. 

500 IN ODI CRICKET? KOHLI SAYS ENGLAND COULD BE THE FIRST TEAM TO THE MARK

England could be the first team to score 500 runs in ODIs, India captain Virat Kohli said in jest as captains could not agree on the scoring trends in what is expected to be a high-scoring World Cup. With 481/6 against Australia last year, England already hold the record of highest ODI total. Kohli was asked if the 500-run mark could be breached in this edition. “I was just going to say it really depends on these guys. They seem to be obsessed with getting to 500 before anyone else,” said Kohli while pointing to his English counterpart Eoin Morgan, who sat next to him. Kohli conceded that the tournament will see a run-fest but pressure of playing in the World Cup will make even 260-270 hard to chase. The Indian captain expects the teams to be more cautious as the tournament progresses. — PTI

Once it gets underway, particularly against England, and further on for the Ashes, the crowd will play a part but that is expected everywhere in the world. We have plans in place for that, and their squad input and output in terms of the runs they have been making has been fantastic. — Aaron Finch, Australia skipper 

Every team has X-factor bowlers that will have a big say in the successes of the side. I think the bowlers will win it, the teams still in it towards the end of the tournament will be the teams that have done really well with the ball. — Faf du Plessis, South Africa skipper 

There has been a lot of talk about rankings, favourites, underdogs but what stands out is how balanced it is. Which means anything can happen on the day which is so exciting. — Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan skipper 

Every captain sitting here would lose their left leg to play in the World Cup final at the home of cricket. It’s something every one of us would have dreamed of as a kid. We are as best prepared as we can be. We just want to play that first game now. — Eoin Morgan, England skipper