Virat Kohli takes aim at England’s ‘obsession’ with cracking 500-run mark

England are the World Cup hosts, the favourites and the most explosive team in world cricket. But Indian skipper Virat Kohli might have hit a nerve by poking fun at their ‘obsession’.

India's Virat Kohli gestures, during the Captain's Press Conference, in London, Thursday, May 23, 2019. The Cricket World Cup starts on Thursday May 30. (Andrew Boyers/Pool Photo via AP)

• Hot favourites England ‘want to poach Ponting’
• Waugh urges Langer to drop idea of Warner at No.3

Indian captain Virat Kohli has poured cold water on World Cup favourite England’s “obsession” with becoming the first team to score 500 runs.

Kohli said it could take just half that tally to secure the trophy in a prediction that would suit Australia, which is determined not to match England’s all-out batting aggression.

England captain Eoin Morgan backed Stuart Broad’s bold call that no former batsman in their country’s history would get a game in the current team, which is stacked with brutal hitting power.

Tournament scorecards were last week redesigned to go up to 500 as expectations grow that the record books will tumble when the competition begins on Thursday.

England's captain Eoin Morgan (L) and India's Virat Kohli at the Captain's Press Conference, in London. Picture: AP

MORE CRICKET NEWS

Buttler playing in a different gear to the rest

Leverock and the catch that shook the world

Rhodes on the photo that changed his life

The murder of a cricket coach that never was

But while Kohli and Australian captain Aaron Finch agreed England deserved to be favourites, the Indian master scoffed at the relentless talk of batting records.

“It really depends on these boys (England), because they seem to be obsessed with getting to 500 before anyone else,” Kohli said while sitting next to Morgan at the captain’s day in London.

“But 260-270 is going to be as difficult to get in a World Cup as chasing 380 or 370. I don’t see many high-scoring games happening in the latter half of the tournament.

The powerhouse batting of Jos Buttler (L) is the centrepiece of England’s explosive line-up. Picture: Getty

“Initially some teams might get on a roll but you’ll see 250 defended as well, that’s the kind of pressure the World Cup brings.

“Closer to knockout stages pressure rises. No one’s going to go gung-ho right from ball one in pressure games of a World Cup.

“You might get a team that just goes on a roll but I think generally both teams would like to start in a balanced way and find their way into the game and look to capitalise when the moment comes.

“I see the pressure playing a massive part in the second half.”

Australia's Aaron Finch agrees England deserve favouritism. Picture: AP

WORLD CUP PREVIEWS:

INDIA: Kohli a better chaser than lemon after tequila

ENGLAND: Great expectations, but danger lurks

SOUTH AFRICA: Chokes ‘a dark mist that hangs over us’

NEW ZEALAND: Dark horses or genuine thoroughbreds?

PAKISTAN: Chaos as ever, but beware the ‘wounded tigers’

AFGHANISTAN: Former minnows to challenge world order

Finch said the trajectory of 50-over scores in England was rising, but his team has vowed to stick to the balanced formula that has delivered it eight consecutive victories.

Kohli said India learned valuable lessons while watching Australia’s joy after it won their recent ODI series 3-2.

“Being 2-0 up we definitely thought we were going to win one out of three, but they showed more passion, more character and more determination than us in the small moments and they enjoyed every moment as a side,” Kohli said.

“The one thing we learned was from all standing at the presentation, and I spoke to (Marcus) Stoinis about it in the IPL as well, was the fact that if a team on a given day gets together against a very experienced side and they just believe more that they can win against all the odds it can be achieved.”

Originally published as Virat Kohli takes aim at England’s ‘obsession’ with cracking 500-run mark