Virat Kohli’s demands for 2019 World Cup

Virat Kohli’s demands for 2019 World Cup: The Indian captain has put forward three demands in front of the Committee of Administrators.

Indian captain Virat Kohli along with the team management have laid down three demands in front of the CoA (Committee of Administrators) ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Among the major points are the request for bananas in abundance throughout the tournament, a reserved train coach and permission for the wives to travel for the players during international cricket’s most prestigious tournament.

If a report in the Indian Express is to be believed, these points were discussed during the review meeting that the team management had with the CoA before the second Test against Windies at Hyderabad. The meeting was attended by Kohli, Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, ODI vice-captain Rohit Sharma, coach Ravi Shastri and chairman of selectors MSK Prasad.

“Apparently, the England cricket board failed to serve the Indian team with the fruit of their choice during the tour. But the CoA was amused by the request and said that the players should have told the team manager to buy bananas on the BCCI’s expenses,” a source was quoted as saying to the Indian Express.

“There were other demands about booking hotels with a proper gym and discussions about the duration and protocol regarding wives accompanying players on tours,” the source further said.

Worrying about the security of the players, the CoA was initially at odds with the notion of the team travelling by train throughout the World Cup.

“The CoA was initially not willing to agree because it was worried about security. But it was informed by Kohli that the England team travelled by train… The team wants a coach to be blocked and booked. The CoA was worried about travelling Indian fans mobbing the train. Eventually, the committee agreed under the condition that the CoA or BCCI won’t be held responsible if anything untoward happens,” the source added.

The CoA will be arranging for a bus for the wives who will travel to Australia at the end of this year. “There have been instances in past where a few players have driven with their wives separately. The board wants to stop that practice as it affects team bonding,” the source said.

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