Success hinges on execution for Kohli

India will benefit from a fitter, more mature squad when they begin their defence of the Champions Trophy next month, but the team have little room for error because of the tournament’s short format, skipper Virat Kohli said yesterday.Kohli, who was part of the side that trumped hosts England in the final at Edgbaston in 2013, is relishing the chance to lead India’s title defence and says the squad is well balanced with the right mentality to replicate their earlier success.“This year the team is a lot fitter, the cricketers are a lot more mature because that was a very young group four years ago,” Kohli told reporters after India touched down in London for the tournament starting on June 1.“It has gained a lot of experience in the last three or four years... We are in a good head-space going into this tournament.”India begin their Group B campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Birmingham on June 4, before facing Sri Lanka and South Africa, and Kohli called for complete focus. “I love the tournament because it represents a challenge from the (word) go. In the ICC World Cup you have a league and a lot of games to play but here it is group games and then either the semis or you are out.”MS Dhoni has been included in India’s squad and although Kohli expects his former captain to thrive during the tournament, he called on the rest in the lower middle order to help ease the pressure on the 35-year-old.“We needed to strengthen our lower middle order contribution,” Kohli said. “I felt too much burden was coming on MS Dhoni in the past couple of years.“He wasn’t able to express himself purely because of the fact that there are not enough guys showing composure to finish off the game with him. But now we are a balanced side,” he said. “It’s about execution now. You might have the best side in the world but if you do not execute there is no point having that skill. In a tournament like this it all boils down to how you execute on the day.” Kohli’s 50-over form in the past 12 months is nothing short of exemplary, with an average of over 90 – while he already has the fourth most one-day international centuries in history. But he struggled to find his best form in England three years ago, averaging less than 20 across five Test matches. “If you talk about the longer format of the game, then I did not do well here three years ago,” he said. “I was not able to contribute to the team and I want to succeed, although not to prove a point. It motivates me further to come back and do better. For me it is a game of cricket. From then to now, I have shown I am strong mentally. England brings a lot for challenges for a batsmen and I want to overcome them personally for my satisfaction at the end of my career. From that point of view, it is exciting for me,” he added.Kohli ‘not nervous’ to be in England after Manchester attackIndia captain Virat Kohli insisted yesterday he had no qualms about being in England for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament following the deadly Manchester terror attack. A suicide bomb that exploded shortly after the end of a concert by US pop singer Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena on Monday killed 22 people and injured dozens more. They begin the defence of their title with a match against arch-rivals Pakistan in Birmingham on June 4 in what is arguably the most high-profile match of the entire tournament. Following Monday’s attack, BCCI contacted the ICC to raise “concerns” about team security. But a defiant Kohli said: “For a few people it can be a nervous time, but as a squad you don’t have time to focus on those factors.  You’re here for a sporting tournament, and that remains paramount.” The star batsman added: “I don’t feel any nervousness; I saw life resume pretty normally, and that’s always a healthy sign. That’s very reassuring. “I’m sure the whole squad feels that way and I’m not at all nervous about being in England - and I’m excited to play the tournament. What happened here was really saddening and very disturbing for everyone, especially in a place like England, (which) has not had many of these incidents in the past.”