No relevance in earlier win: Kohli

“I don’t see any relevance of the first game here because you can never tell how a particular team starts a tournament. Some teams start very confidently and then they fade off. Some teams might not have the best starts and come back amazingly, which Pakistan have done,” Kohli said on the eve of the much-anticipated, high octane clash.

“So everyone is aware of the talent they have in their team. On their day, they can beat any side in the world,” he added. 

The 28-year-old India skipper said he was hoping for a very well contested Champions trophy final. “Both teams obviously want to win the final. They have worked very hard to stand where they are in the final and I’m sure all the players will come out and give their best,” he said. 

When asked about the preparation and the team’s approach, Kohli said, “We have not spoken about the game in any different way. We have practiced the same way as we started the day we came here. Even today’s practice was no different. There wasn’t any drop of intensity or something extra. There was no over excitement. People were just doing the normal things that they do in any practice session and that’s the kind of approach we have following throughout the tournament,” he added.