ICC World Cup 2019 | Iā€™m a massive fan of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, says Ben Stokes

ICC World Cup 2019 | Iā€™m a massive fan of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, says Ben Stokes

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Ben Stokes has revealed that he is a massive fan of Indian skipper Virat Kohli and former Australian captain Steven Smith ahead of the start of the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup on May 30. The England all-rounder has added that his team is totally focused about winning the World Cup on home soil.

The Indian cricket team are touted as one of the favourites to lift the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup along with hosts England. The three lions made their way to a 4-0 win against Pakistan in the recently concluded five-match ODI series on home soil. Ben Stokes impressed in the home series along with batsman Jason Roy who was adjudged as man of the series.

Stokes, who had a below-par IPL season with Rajasthan Royals, revealed that he has looked up to Indian captain Virat Kohli and Australiaā€™s Steven Smith. The English all-rounder added that hopes to see them both perform well in front of the English crowds.

"They are both phenomenal players and have played quite a bit against both of them. You watch them play and they make the game look a lot more easier than others do. So, I am a massive fan of both the players. They have both got their own styles and they are both different in the way they play, but they are both very very effective. You obviously play against guys to win, but at the end of the day you got to look at it from an angle that I love cricket and I love watching both Virat and Steve go about doing their jobs so consistently," Stokes said in a recent interview as per IANS.

English media have talked up the talent of Jos Buttler and Stokes who have been narrowed down as the two key players for England in the upcoming World Cup. The Durham-born cricketer added that the English squad is geared up and ready to go as they wait for May 30.

"I think home advantage is a good thing coz you have your home fans to back you. But then, the thing with the World Cup is that whoever turns up on the day and plays better cricket will win, so the home advantage doesn't matter if you think that way. Was speaking to Steve Smith a few days back about it and he was telling me how playing in front of the Australian crowd and sharing the moments with his friends and family was really special and one of his best memories. Having spoken about it so much, I really want the World Cup to start now. Just want that first game to get underway.

"We have Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, skipper Eoin Morgan and obviously Jos Buttler who go out and play these amazing innings. We also have guys who go under the radar but do their bits very consistently. And one person we definitely need to be firing is Morgan as he is a great leader of our team and when he is going, he keeps scoring. Both Buttler and Joe Root are high quality players who go about doing their jobs, but I feel Eoin firing is really important," Stokes added.

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