|| Desk Report ||

India captain Virat Kohli urged International Cricket Council (ICC) to consider the format of IPL in a bid to give the table topper an advantage.

His plea to ICC came following India’ shocking 18-run defeat to New Zealand.

 “Maybe. If topping the table means anything. I think these things can come into consideration, looking at the magnitude of this tournament. That is a really valid point. You never know when that is going to be implemented,” said Kohli when asked whether he wants the IPL format in the World Cup.

In IPL semifinal, the two table toppers play each other in the first qualifier and the third and fourth play in the first eliminator. In the first qualifier, the team that losses get another opportunity to go into the final. They play against the winner of the first eliminator. This is the advantage table toppers get in IPL to avoid sudden knock out after playing well throughout the tournament.

India topped the point table in the group stage with 15 points (7 wins and a loss). They played against fourth at the table New Zealand.  Kohli is disappointed that his team played just one bad game of cricket and they are out of the tournament.

“You finish No 1 in the table and then a spell of bad cricket and you are out of the tournament completely,” Kohli added.

But Kohli doesn’t want to give any excuse about this defeat. He admits that they weren’t good enough on the day. And they have to accept their fate.