It's more emotional than 'World Cup triumph': Virat Kohli

Sydney: He was a part of India’s victorious World Cup campaign in 2011 but Virat Kohli felt “more emotional” than ever before after his team’s maiden Test series win in Australia, something the captain termed as the “biggest achievement” of his career. “By far this is my best achievement. Has to be on top of the pile,” Kohli said after being the first Indian captain to lead the team to a Test series win in Australia in 71 years. The skipper then explained that why the triumph Down Under will remain more special for him compared to World Cup triumph. 

“I was a part of the 2011 World Cup team but I didn’t have the emotion of not having been able to win a World Cup before, playing at home and winning it eventually. A lot of the senior players had that emotion. So, for them it was what “we have achieved”. Yes, it was a great moment for me to be part of. “But if you ask me which moment is more emotional, I would say this one because this is my third tour here and I have seen with experience and being in the field as to how difficult it is to win here. So from that point of view this one is more emotional to me,” the skipper said. 

He is well aware of the history but by his own admission, he never wanted to challenge it. 

“History does matter. It’s obviously a very proud moment, more so because for the last 12 months, we understand what we have gone through as a team. Although changing history or creating history is still not what I am thinking of, it is pure satisfaction of the hard work of 12 months,” added Kohli. 

For someone, who has time and again emphasized on team effort, Kohli said that Hanuma Vihari’s dogged resistance against the new ball in an unfamiliar opening position was as critical as a century or big knock. 

“If you ask me to single out a contribution, for me Hanuma Vihari playing 70 balls with the new ball in MCG is as big as anyone getting a hundred or anyone scoring 70-80. That’s how we recognise contributions, and we don’t look at contribution as something that goes up on the honours’ board,” the eloquent skipper said.