Champions Trophy: Virat Kohli wants Indian cricket team to replicate Test glory

Virat Kohli will lead the Indian cricket team in the Champions Trophy in UK from June 1. India are the number 1 Test side in the ICC rankings. India are also the defending champions of ICC Champions Trophy

India’s hunger to succeed in the Test arena saw them climb to the top of the world rankings and Virat Kohli wants a similar approach as they try to defend their ICC Champions Trophy crown. (FULL COVERAGE)

Virat Kohli with teammates after winning the Test series against Australia in Dharamsala earlier this year. Kohli is looking for similar success in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2017. (PTI)

Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team have beaten England and Australia over the longer format of the game to rise to world number one, but they sit third in the ICC 50-over format rankings. (CHAMPIONS TROPHY SCHEDULE)

Indian cricket team goes into the Champions Trophy as defending champions after claiming their second title four years ago and Kohli believes they can be successful again if they channel their Test success.

“The hunger to win and ruthlessness is what we speak about all the time,” he said.

“In Test cricket we have been able to reach the top with that mindset, we want to take it across all formats.

“That goes a long way in a tournament like this. If we think in that manner, we will get the results we want more often than not.”

India cricket team with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after beating Australia by eight wickets in the deciding fourth Test in Dharamsala in March 2017 (PTI)

‘NOT THINKING OF AUSTRALIA’S FEAT’

Were India to retain their title they would become only the second nation to do so, but Virat Kohli is not thinking about matching Australia’s feat and is instead keen for his side to just enjoy their cricket.

“I think the first challenge is not to think that we are defending the title,” he added.

“When we went there last time, we just wanted to enjoy ourselves as a young unit and we ended up winning the tournament and creating a team which has done so well so far.

“Because the tournament is much shorter [than World Cup] and you have got the top eight teams in the world, the competitiveness of the tournament is much higher, right from the word go.

“In the Champions Trophy, you need to be on top of your game from game one. If not, your chances go down pretty soon. I think that’s the biggest challenge.”

India open their campaign against Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 4.