We weren't brave enough: Virat Kohli

New Zealand handed India a comprehensive eight-wicket defeat in Dubai to almost jeopardize their semi-final hopes and despite India having three comparatively easier games in the next three rounds, things are looking pretty bleak at the moment. What will hurt them is the manner of defeat as the side floundered to their second consecutive defeat. Virat Kohli held no words in accepting the fact that they were not brave enough in taking chances upfront.

"To be brutal upfront, I don't think we were brave enough with bat/ball. We obviously didn't have much to play with the ball. We were just not brave enough in our body language when we entered the field and NZ had better intensity, body language. Every time we took a chance, we lost a wicket," Kohli said in the post-match presentation.

Kohli acknowledged the fact that his side couldn't respond to the pressure generated by the opposition while adding that the hope of the fans were crushed in a way they didn't imagine. The Indian skipper added that their lack of surety about going for shots played a big role in the loss.

"It's most often a result of hesitation of whether you should go for a shot or not. When you play for India, there are loads of expectations. We are watched, people come to the stadium and everyone who plays for India needs to embrace that and cope with it. 

"We haven't done that in these two games, and that's why we haven't won. We have to be optimistic and positive and take calculated risks. We have to disconnect from the pressure and continue with our process, and play a positive brand of cricket. There's a lot of cricket to play in the tournament," the Indian skipper added.

India will take on Afghanistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.