Big focus on T20 World Cup for one year, divulges Virat Kohli

With the T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia, just one year away, India skipper Virat Kohli has made it clear that the ICC tournament would be the team's major focus for the next twelve months and the period would be crucial for their preparation. On Friday, ahead of the third Test in Ranchi, Kohli said that India will represent their best men for the ICC event.

"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is a big focus for us, and it's important that we use the next 12 months to place ourselves in the best possible position to compete for another major ICC trophy," Kohli was quoted as saying by the ICC.

Starting from the semifinal defeat in the T20 World Cup 2016, followed by the Champions Trophy defeat in 2017 and semifinal exit from the ICC World Cup this year, India have been missing out on lifting major titles despite being one of the best teams in the world - something that was pointed out by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who has now been selected as the new BCCI chairman. And Kohli believes that the players are motivated enough for the T20 extravaganza. 

"Our players will be really motivated to take their opportunities when they get selected for T20I matches to put themselves forward for the T20 World Cup, as we want to have a settled team combination by the time we get to Australia," Kohli said.

"India won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 when the format was new and the future a bit unknown. Since then, T20 cricket has truly come of age and it would be an honour to be the second Indian captain to lift the T20 World Cup trophy, and hopefully the third if the Indian women can win it earlier in 2020. I hope to see more of that when we come back to Australia next year," he added.

The tournament would be starting October 18 and go on to conclude on November 15 in 2020, that's ahead of them.