Can't urge fans to behave in a certain way, want to win World T20: Virat Kohli

Mohali, March 26: In-form batsman Virat Kohli today (March 26) said he and his team-mates were working hard to win the ICC World Twenty20 and he has no control over the extreme reactions of the fans.

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India, who started as favourites to clinch the World T20 title, suffered a shock 47-run defeat against New Zealand in their Group 2 opening match. However, they rallied to score back-to-back wins, against Pakistan and Bangladesh, though the last success was a narrow 1-run triumph.

Now, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India are in a must-win situation as they face Australia in Mohali tomorrow (March 27). A victory will guarantee a spot in the semi-finals.

On the eve of the do-or-die battle, Kohli was asked about his opinion on the extreme reactions of the Indian fans, who expect the team to claim the trophy. (Kohli praises 'Mahi bhai')

"No point of speaking on something which you don't have control on. We obviously want to win the tournament. There is no doubt about that. We are working as hard as possible to win the tournament," Kohli told reporters on Saturday (March 26).

He continued, "Reactions (of fans) are always going to be there, either positive or negative or neutral. Some people don't care, some people get too angry, some people get too happy. But as long as we don't really focus on those things, at some stage we need to draw the line to keep the negative stuff away and use the positive stuff to pull you forward, to push you forward.That is the key at the international level.

"If you start paying attention to both (positive and negative) those things, then you are in trouble. You might as well stay away from it totally or use the positive for your good and neglect the negative, which is difficult. Not many people are able to do it. So most of them choose to stay away from both and focus on the game and focus on improving their skills."

The Indian Test captain said he cannot tell fans to behave in a particular way. He described reactions as "individual choice".

"Eventually it is all about how you play on that particular day. The reactions are based on that. You don't go and thinking about reactions when you play a cricket ball. Some things are not in my control. I would like to not comment on it. It is a very personal choice. Tomorrow if I sit here and make fun of a particular cricketer or pull him down, it is my choice. If I decide do it or I don't decide to do it or I suppport him.

"It is a very individual choice that sitting here in front of a mic I cannot urge people to behave a certain way. You make mistakes, you learn from your own mistakes and you should realise them yourself as an individual," Kohli said.

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