Nagpur, March 14: In-form batsman Virat Kohli has stated that the Indian team was confident going into the ICC World Twenty20 2016 but admitted the tournament would be "far more challenging" than the recent bilateral series and Asia Cup.
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India open their campaign in World T20 tomorrow (March 15) with a game against New Zealand at Nagpur's Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium.
Speaking to the media on the eve of the match, Kohli said the team was on a high after winning 2 bilateral series and also the Asia Cup T20. (Beware of unpredictability)
"We are pretty confident with the way we have been playing. We have won 10 out of our last 11 (T20I) games. We are taking some good momentum into the World Cup," Kohli said on Monday (March 14). (Can Dhoni create history?)
He continued, "The Asia Cup was good preparation for us for a big tournament, getting the feel of playing against the big teams. But this (World T20) is going to be far more challenging. You have teams from all over the world competing.
"If you look at both the groups (in Super 10 stage), the teams are very strong, very evenly matched. It is going to be tough but we would like to focus on our strengths and the opposotions do not matter for us so much at this stage.
"Obviously we need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition players but it is more to do with the way we have played and continue the same way. Probably try and execute things which have got us success."
India are in Group 2 with New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Top 2 from the group progress to the semi-finals.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India won the inaugural World T20 in South Africa in 2007 beating Pakistan. This time, they are the favourites to claim the trophy and create history.
In the previous 5 editions, there have been 5 different champions. World T20 2016 ends in Kolkata on April 3.
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