Kohli 'relaxed' amid Tendulkar record hype, says Dravid
Virat Kohli with Sachin Tendulkar
|| CF DESK ||
Players stuck in middle with IPL, national teams on collision course
14 May 25
India coach Rahul Dravid insisted Virat Kohli is "really focused" on winning the World Cup rather than any looming personal and professional landmarks as the hosts prepare to put their unbeaten record on the line against nearest pursuers South Africa.
Star batsman Kohli turns 35 on Sunday, when India -- who've already reached the semi-finals -- face the Proteas at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.
Kohli almost equalled Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 49 one-day international hundreds while making 88 against Sri Lanka in the presence of the 'Little Master' at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
But his innings helped pave the way for a crushing 302-run win, with Kohli now having scored 442 runs, including one hundred, from seven tournament innings at an average of over 88.
Kohli, Rohit exits leave India facing uncertain new era
13 May 25
"I think Virat's been really relaxed and as you can see in his performances, batting really well for us," Dravid told a pre-match press conference on Saturday.
"I haven't noticed anything different. He's always been the same. He's always been professional, always been hard-working, always been switched on."
Dravid, himself once an outstanding India batsman, said Kohli's attitude and performances were indictive of his desire to win the World Cup for a second time, having previously lifted the trophy on home soil in 2011.
"I don't really think he's thinking too much about (ODI hundreds) 49 and 50, and probably certainly not about his birthday and getting a year older. I think he's been really focused on winning the tournament and playing some good cricket for us. I think he's doing that really well." Dravid added.
