LONDON: As India take on Bangladesh in the semi final of the Champions Trophy on June 15, Indian skipper Virat Kohli believes that everyone wants to see India and England in the final.
India will take on Bangladesh in the second semifinal on Thursday after England and Pakistan play out the first last-four clash on Wednesday.
“It would not have mattered who we were playing in the semis. The league phase is the toughest. We have an opportunity to win one game and enter the finals. Everyone wants to see an India-England final. If both teams play well, people might get what they want to see,” he said at a gathering.
The Indian cricket captain was joined by some of his teammates, including former captain MS Dhoni, and head coach Anil Kumble at a special reception at the Lord’s Cricket Ground last evening.
The event was hosted by the Indian High Commission to mark the UK-India Year of Culture.
Asked which team he would prefer to come up against in the finals, he added: “Anyone. We would just be happy to be in the finals.”
Kohli said it was a treat to be welcomed by “massive crowds wherever we play”.
“If there is a sunny day in England, there is no better place to play cricket. The white ball hasn’t historically swung as much here. When the clouds comes in, the conditions become a bit more difficult,” he said.
“You have to respect the conditions here regardless of what score you are batting at. That is the beautiful thing about playing here, it challenges you as a batsman,” he added.
