R Ashwin's batting a benchmark for other spinners: Virat Kohli

Chennai: India may have won the five-match Test series against England 3-0, but with the last match still to be played at Chennai; captain Virat Kohli is not ready to take the game lightly.

“We just take one game at a time, I don’t think we are looking at the collective series as 4-0,” said Kohli on the eve of the final Test.

“The intensity to win a Test match remains the same, whether we have won the series or we have not won the series or it is drawn. We just want to continue what we have been doing.”

The skipper also praised the trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jayant Yadav for their series-winning contribution - not just with the ball, but also with the bat.

“Their (Ashwin, Jadeja, Jayant) contribution with the bat has been outstanding. Hasn’t taken much from me at all to motivate them. I think Ashwin has set a benchmark for other spinners to contribute with the bat. Jadeja has come of age with the bat in this series. We remember his crucial knock in Mohali.

“Jayant as well, he gets inspired seeing Ashwin the way he improves his cricket every time, Jayant always has been a keen learner and he works on his batting also.

Jayant brought up his maiden century at Mumbai and became the first No. 9 Indian batsman to score a ton. Lower order’s good form with the bat has allowed India to play an extra bowler in the series.

“All the bowlers have done well with the bat. As a captain, it gives you more freedom to play five batsmen rather than thinking of playing an extra batsman. Where your bowlers contribute 100-120 runs every game, It’s as good as playing another batsman and it gives you the freedom to play another bowler. As a captain, I credit them for working hard and giving the team that extra option.”