Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli will run down Oxford Street without wearing a shirt if India won the World Cup in England in 2019. The pledge came after he defended Sourav Ganguly for taking his shirt off at the iconic Lords in London after winning the Natwest Trophy way back in 2002, saying the former captain did no wrong by waiving his shirt.

Kohli said that it was an honest reaction to winning a game and a very organic moment- it was pure happiness coming through, reports the DNA.  

Kohli made the comment during an interactive session at the launch of cricket historian Boria Majumdar’s book Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians in Kolkata.

Ganguly, who was also present at the session, quickly responded to Kohli’s comment saying, the present Indian skipper would take a step further if he wins the 2019 World Cup.

‘He will take his shirt off in Oxford Street... we better get our cameras ready. Kohli has his six packs. I won’t be surprised if he takes his shirt off,’ said Ganguly.

Kohli responded by saying he will walk around shirtless. He also added that not just him some other players will surely join him.

‘I don’t think it will only be me.’

When Ganguly suggested Hardik Pandya’s name, Kohli said, ‘For sure, Hardik Pandya will be following me. 120 per cent. Bumrah is there as well because he has six packs too. He is there in the game. There will be a few candidates’.

Ganguly had taken off and waved his shirt at Lord’s after India won the NatWest Series final against England is etched in memory. The act was in response to Andrew Flintoff’s taking off his shirt after a win against India. 

Virat Kohli was around 13 years old when the iconic moment happened.

Kohli will captain Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). RCB will take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday in their first respective matches in the tournament.