Virat Kohli seeks consistency from top-ranked India

Kolkata: India cannot afford to be complacent and should look to win every match, skipper Virat Kohli said Monday, even as his side reclaimed the top spot in Test rankings.

India romped to a 178-run victory against New Zealand on the fourth day of the second Test in Kolkata to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

If India's seamers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar played big roles on a seemingly two-paced track at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, then the batsmen also chipped in at crucial points.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha struck unbeaten half-centuries in both innings against New Zealand's aggressive seamers to be named man of the match.

The teamwork saw India jump back to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings after starting the series just one point behind archrivals Pakistan.

"We just want to win every game we play, it's as simple as that. It (being number one) doesn't mean that we take the foot off the pedal in Indore," Kohli told reporters, referring to the venue for the final Test.

"We don't drop intensity there, we don't drop our character, our vision to win a Test match for the country."

However Kohli reiterated that rankings were never on his mind, adding the responsibility of taking Test cricket to greater heights is what he wanted.

Kohli was seen egging on the sparse Eden turnout and he said it makes a massive difference.

"You have to interact with them, you have to make sure they are a part of the whole thing. It just creates an energy and you feed off on that.

"It happens so much in limited overs, so why not in Test cricket? A challenging situation in Test cricket is the most exciting thing a viewer can see, and for a player playing as well, to feel.

 

"It's our responsibility to keep Test cricket where it belongs, and if we play cricket like this, you saw how engaged the crowd was, they like to see exciting cricket, and we have to provide it.

"You can sense that energy which no other format can provide for you. We are just taking this as a privilege and a responsibility to keep doing what we can do, to the best of our abilities and hopefully get the right results every time it won't happen every time we know. But at least we can try to win a game of cricket every time we step onto the field, that's all we think about."

Citing the example of crowd atmosphere in Australia and England, he said: "There if they get a couple of wickets, the crowd gets behind really loud and as a batsman you understand that it creates a lot of pressure, you feel nervous."

"So I just try to think as a batsman, how I would feel walking in, the ball is reverse swinging and the crowd's going mad behind a bowler who is warm, who is willing to take a wicket. It makes a huge difference."

From being 135/3 at tea, New Zealand lost seven wickets in 29.1 overs in the last session and the crowd's involvement really helped in creating an atmosphere, Kohli said.

"We were able to pick up two, three wickets. The crowd also loves it; you engage them for the betterment of the team. A bowler who is tired... Shami would have bowled three overs but he fed off the energy and he bowled 12 more balls for the team, got another wicket."

"It's our responsibility to keep Test cricket where it belongs, and if we play cricket like this - you saw how engaged the crowd was, they like to see exciting cricket, and we have to provide it," said Kohli, who recorded his ninth Test win as captain.

 

Useful half-centuries from Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane also contributed to India's big win, which was their 11th Test triumph in their last 13 matches.

"If all of your players perform, there is nothing like it...the more we win Test matches like this the more we understand how Test cricket is played, how Test matches can be won.

"...As a captain I think this win is far more satisfying than individual brilliance winning you a game," Kohli said.