Champions Trophy 2017: Will have to push harder to get more runs against South Africa, says Virat Kohli

After suffering a heart-wrenching seven-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka, India skipper Virat Kohli has asserted that his side will have to push harder and put more runs on the board in what would be a virtual quarter-final against South Africa in the ongoing Champions Trophy.

All the teams in Group B ( India, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan) are now with two points each and two matches now become virtual quarter-finals for them.

The Virat Kohli-led side are still at the top of the table in their group courtesy their healthy run-rate.

The Defending Champions will next face South Africa at the Oval on Sunday while Sri Lanka play Pakistan on Monday at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

The temperature is high in the other group as well. While England has already sealed a semi-final berth, all the other teams of Group A - Australia, Bangladesh and New Zealand - hold a chance of cruising to the top four of the tournament.

Australia will lock its horn with England, while New Zealand is all set to face Bangladesh. Australia's defeat at the hands of England will open gates for other two teams to fight and earn the semi-final spot. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, who have been termed as 'underdogs' in the ongoing event, on 8 June overcame the India challenge as they registered a comfortable seven-wicket win over their Asian neighbours in their crucial encounter at the Oval, London.

Chasing a huge total of 322, the Islanders came out with a stupendous batting performance and crossed the line with nine balls to spare.

"I personally thought we had enough runs on the board. Our bowlers also bowled decently. If batsmen come out and everyone plays like that, then you have to give credit to the opposition as well," Kohli said in the post-match press conference.

"When you lose games, you always find negatives. But if a side comes out and plays fearless cricket like this and executes their plans and shots so well, you have to take your hat sometime and say 'Very well played'," he added.

Put into bat, the defending champions rode on the spectacular century of Shikhar Dhawan to post a huge total of 321-6 against the Lankan Tigers.

Both Dhawan (125) and Sharma (78) provided the Men in Blue with a stupendous start, putting 138 runs for the opening stand. However, as soon as Sharma departed, skipper Kohli (0) and last match's hero Yuvraj Singh (7) went down cheaply.

Senior wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni then shared a 82-run stand with Dhawan and took India to a commanding position. Towards the end of the innings, Kedar Jadhav played an impactful cameo of 25 runs off 13 balls and helped India to post a total of 321-6.

Speaking about the batting performance, the 28-year-old Indian skipper said, "I thought we had enough runs midway. But the good thing they did was they did not lose wickets and they kept rotating strike which we as a team have done so many times."

"I think we have to push harder now in the next few games to give us a 20-run cushion may be after seeing a result like this because we are playing on the same ground," he added.

- -With ANI inputs