Kohli says talks with Sharma focus on improving India

Virat Kohli said he and Rohit Sharma regularly exchanged ideas during their respective captaincy periods, with their discussions focused on improving the Indian team. Kohli said the conversations became more detailed as major tournaments approached, when the pair would look for problems to address before the next match. Kohli described the exchanges as part of the responsibilities of senior players who have led India. He said he sought Sharma’s views when he was captain and that Sharma turned to him for ideas after taking over. Former captain MS Dhoni also took part in some discussions during the leadership transition, Kohli said. The conversations, Kohli said, centred on the team’s interests rather than either player’s individual performance. As a World Cup nears, he added, discussions turn to fine-tuning and identifying issues that can be corrected and used in the following game. The remarks describe the players’ account of their discussions; the available information does not establish what specific team decisions or on-field changes resulted from them. Sharma has also spoken about the pair’s ongoing exchanges, saying they discuss ways to improve their games.