Moeen Ali sets sights on Virat Kohli

ENGLAND MEET INDIA on Sunday in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The match is going to be played at Edgbaston – and England all-rounder Moeen Ali has a game plan.

Ali is hoping he will be the one to dismiss Indian captain Virat Kohli – who was his captain when he played under Kohli in the Royal Challengers Bangalore side in the Indian Premier League.

Writing in The Guardian, Ali explained that the two have known each other since they were in Under-19 teams, but playing for the Challengers in the last couple of years has cemented their very good friendship.

“Virat knows he’s there to score runs for India,” wrote Ali, “while I’m here to get him out (or score some myself). It means a lot to get a player like him out but you can still be friends trying to do it. I grew up playing against friends and cousins in the park and it was some of the most competitive cricket I have played. The key here is respect.”

Ali also revealed that he regrets getting out to de Silva in England’s match against Sri Lanka – though he still appreciates the effort to play good cricket can be just as important as the drive to win a match.

“When I got out attempting a second six in a row, I walked off knowing people were going to get stuck into me. I targeted Dhananjaya de Silva and if I had cleared the fielder – a metre in difference – our chase would have got that bit of extra momentum. And to be honest, I’d still rather get out playing that shot than the one against Australia, trying to guide a single only to edge behind when the ball seamed,” he said.

England have to beat India to stay in the competition.

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