There may be several match-winners in the Indian batting line-up, but the opposition always has its guns trained on skipper Virat Kohli.
Highlighting the importance of Kohli for the Indian team after England’s eight-wicket win in the first T20I on Friday, speedster Jofra Archer said, “Every time Kohli gets out early, it somewhat dampens the Indian camp. It takes them time to recover. To see the back of him early is always a real bonus.”
Kohli was dismissed for a duck in the first T20, which was incidentally his first-ever consecutive duck in international cricket. In the preceding Test series, Kohli had departed twice without opening his account.

Although Adil Rashid got the wicket of Kohli on Friday, Archer played a big role in softening up the Indian captain in the previous over with some fiery bouncers – one of which thudded into Kohli’s gloves.
“I always enjoy it when the competition is tough. I know I have to step up my game. It brings out the best in me,” the 25-year-old Archer said. “If I am bowling well, then I know one wicket will always bring two or three.”

‘India will come back hard’
Archer reckoned England should not take Kohli & Co. lightly, despite their comfortable win in the first match.
“They (India) are No. 2 in the world T20 rankings for a reason. It was just the first game of the series and I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves as yet. I know India will come back at us hard and we will have to be ready,” said Archer.

Twin targets
Archer, who has lately been troubled by an irksome elbow injury, has set his sights on helping England win the T20 World Cup in India later this year and the 2021-22 Ashes in Australia.
“For me, in the immediate, I want to get through this series (against India) unscathed and then I will do everything in my power to make sure I am going to the T20 World Cup and the Ashes,” he said.
“Before I think what is going to happen, I need to take care of my elbow first.”