India's cricket captain, Virat Kohli addresses a press conference in The Grange in London on May 25, 2017, ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 tournament. Pic/AFP

Acknowledging the burden on his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni lower down the order, India skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday said the side needed to strengthen the lower middle order contribution as India begin their ICC Champions Trophy title defence against arch-rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 4.