Gearing for the high-profile tour of the United Kingdom, Team India skipper Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri chaired a traditional pre-departure press conference ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final in Mumbai on Wednesday. After emerging as the No.1 side for the season 2020-21 in the longest and the oldest format, Team India under the leadership of skipper Kohli will hope to end their ICC trophy drought when they cross swords with Kane Williamson’s New Zealand in the final of the Test Championship from June 18 at Southampton. 

The Kohli-led side is set to board their flight for the UK to compete in the Test Championship final against the Black Caps which will be followed by the five-match series against hosts England. In the build-up to the summit clash of the ICC Test Championship, skipper Kohli and head coach Shastri took part in the traditional press conference. 

During the media interaction, Kohli was asked about his meteoric rise in the international arena by a reporter. “What’s the difference between Kohli of 2014 and now,” a reporter quizzed skipper Kohli during the World Test Championship final press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday.

“If in 2014, you would have told me that in 2021 I’m going to play the WTC final, I would have had a tough time believing that. I have stopped looking at series as ultimate tasks or goals. It’s about leading the team in the right way,” Kohli responded. 

Taking cognisance of the interaction between the reporter and the Indian skipper, Team India head coach completed Kohli’s answer by lauding the charismatic leader of the Indian side. “The Kohli of 2021 is slimmer and fitter and only has five and half thousand more runs,” Shastri said while reflecting on the rapid rise of the Team India skipper.