Kohli's three factors to win Champs Trophy

Virat Kohli says the three main factors that contributed to India’s 2013 Champions Trophy win will be the same his 2017 unit will look to replicate in their title defence next month.

And after a poor tour of England in 2014, the India skipper is adamant he is not in search of personal redemption, only victory.

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Kohli, speaking in Mumbai Wednesday before his squad departed for the UK, said India’s philosophy towards the tournament had not altered since they beat hosts England in the final four years ago to win their second Champions Trophy crown.

"The last Champions Trophy, the things I felt that were takeaways for us was the opening partnership, the way the fast bowlers bowled and the way we fielded," Kohli said.

"I think we were the best fielding team in the tournament back then.

"We would like to stick to the same strengths and we believe that these are the three factors which really determine how you play in conditions such as England and how far you can go into a tournament such as the Champions Trophy."

India’s opening partnership of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Shawan was imperious in 2013.

The pair combined for first-wicket stands of 127, 101, 58, 77 and 19 in the final, which was reduced to 20-overs per side due to rain.

Dhawan was the driving force behind the top-order avalanche of runs with 363 runs and two centuries to be comfortably the most productive batsman in the tournament.

The prolific partnership will likely reunite in England but not after a Dhawan was dropped for India’s most recent ODI against England in January, while Rohit captained the Mumbai Indians to the IPL title in his comeback from a knee injury.

Kohli’s positive comments on the duo’s deeds from 2013 indicate a reunion is on the cards for India’s opening clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 4 at The Oval.

"The relationship of Rohit and Shikhar (in 2013) as an opening pair … it was a great thing to see for all Indian fans and for the Indian cricket team," Kohli said.

"That was a massive factor in us winning the Champions Trophy."

Left-arm orthodox spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the competition’s leading wicket-taker and player of the tournament four years ago, but the efforts of Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not go unnoticed.

Ishant captured 10 wickets and Kumar six, but the former was overlooked for the touring party on this occasion.

Kumar will lead a pace attack that includes Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and seam-bowling allrounder Hardik Pandya.

While Kohli’s form was excellent in the successful campaign an Olympiad ago – 176 runs at 59 – his returns in England a year later marked the nadir of his international career.

In five Tests Kohli managed only 134 runs in 10 innings, while in the ODI series he scored 54 runs in four knocks.

Kohli’s form since that tour had been a remarkable purple patch until the recent Test series against Australia (46 runs in five innings) and a below-par IPL season with last-placed Bangalore.

But Kohli isn’t seeking redemption in England, only more silverware.

"I feel you improve as a cricketer in every series you that play," Kohli said.

"Sometimes, not in our own heads, but the atmosphere around us is built in a way that (away tours) become like a life or death kind of series.

"Especially for subcontinent cricketers, which I don’t understand why.

"If players (of other countries) don’t do well in India and they go back there’s no real hype around it but if we don’t do well away from India it’s like a knife hanging on your neck.

"I don’t believe in those things. I would never play for redemption.

"My only motivation is to keep winning games for my country and it doesn’t matter the conditions I’m playing in.

"In might be subcontinent, it might be England, Australia, South Africa, the aim always is to win games and I’m willing to whatever I can in my abilities to be able to achieve that for the team.

"People might look it as a redemption opportunity or stuff like that but in my head I don’t think of those things at all.

"For me it’s a game of cricket played anywhere in the world."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy squad named so far

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.

Schedule

Warm-up matches

26 May – Australia v Sri Lanka, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh v Pakistan, Edgbaston

28 May – India v New Zealand, The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

30 May – Bangladesh vs India, The Oval

Tournament

1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)