Kohli surprised over England performance

Sports Desk: Virat Kohli has diagnosed tournament pressure as the reason for England’s predicament, with the India captain having previously expected Eoin Morgan’s side to dominate their home World Cup.
Speaking as he prepared for Sunday’s crunch group game in Edgbaston – where tickets are changing hands for four-figure sums and a strong away support is expected – Kohli recalled his prediction a month ago that totals of 250 will be defended by sides.

Asked about the hosts, who must surely win to keep their semi-final hopes alive, the 30-year-old replied, “Everyone is a bit surprised. We thought England were going to dominate in their own conditions.
But I said before pressure is a massive factor, low scores have got to be defended. That was because I have played in two World Cups. Anyone can beat anyone. We got a scare against Afghanistan the other day. You can’t take anything for granted.

“Other teams have outplayed England on occasions, that can happen to any side. England have to sort out their own issues, I guess. The more basic you can keep things at a tournament like a World Cup, the better. The more you attach emotion or excitement to it the more you put too much pressure on a situation,” he added.

risingbd/Dhaka/June 29, 2019/AKA