New Delhi: Ahead of India’s first clash against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy 2025, batting superstar Virat Kohli has said that he has always had a liking for the marquee event as it demands all the participating eight teams to display their best efforts. India will face neighbours Bangladesh in their opening encounter of the CT 2025 in Dubai on Thursday.
The Champions Trophy is taking place for the first time since 2017 when India lost the final to Pakistan. Kohli, in an interaction on Star Sports, said that the tournament is happening after a very long time and he has always had a liking for the event. He further said that the tournament represents consistency as teams are needed to be in the top eight of the rankings to qualify, which makes the level of the competition tough.
Kohli’s liking for Champions Trophy
Virat Kohli has participated in three editions of the 50-over event in 2009, 2013 and 2017 and scored 529 runs with a best score 96 not out. He further said that he likes the tournament more as compared to the fast-paced T20 World Cup. Further on the interaction, he said that in the ODI format, it creates the pressure of a T20 World Cup. The star batter said that the three or four league games before the knockouts are important as if a team does not start well, it comes under tremendous pressure.
Pressure right from first game
The former Indian skipper said that the pressure is right from the first game and that is the reason why he likes the tournament more than any other marquee tournament. After the first match, India will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 in Dubai and New Zealand on March 2. As part of event’s hybrid model, India will play all the games in Dubai. Meanwhile, the star batter will be aiming for scoring runs in the tournament and get back to form, which has been hit badly.
India lock horns with Bangladesh in their first league match of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Thursday at the Dubai International Stadium. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
