Virat Kohli Determined to Re-Establish India as a Strong Team
Under Virat Kohli's predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India lost series against England (2011, 2014), Australia (2012, 2014-15), South Africa, New Zealand. Now, under Kohli, in his first full series, India have captured the first Test series in Sri Lanka after 22 years.
Fresh from captaining the Indian Test cricket team to an away series victory in four years, Virat Kohli on Wednesday said he is ready to be "more responsible" in their bid to "re-establish" the side that has suffered heavy losses in the past.
Under Kohli's predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India lost series against England (2011, 2014), Australia (2012, 2014-15), South Africa, New Zealand. Now, under Kohli, in his first full series, India have captured the first Test series in Sri Lanka after 22 years.
Insisting on the efforts put in by the team, the 26-year-old said: "I have become more responsible and I always believe on hard work and persistence. The guys also are very hungry for success. They work really hard on their game. (Also read: Ashwin credits Kohli's captaincy for his success against Sri Lanka)
People don't get to see the efforts put in by the management, the coaching staff and the whole team, they see (only) the match. Everyone is as involved and as hardworking (as me) and we want to re-establish India as a very strong team. I am really proud of leading this team," Kohli said after being named the youth icon of gaming brand Smaaash here.
The Delhi cricketer, however, denied answering on his captaincy.
Kolhi, who has 6,586 runs in One-Day Internationals (ODI) and also the vice-captain of the limited overs sides, reflected his days as a "Delhi boy" and said the competitiveness as a youth of the city helped become what he is today.
"Growing up here, the competitiveness has helped me a lot. You can say that Delhi instinct kicks in when I am playing. But if you are talking about typical Delhi boy, I can talk about myself, I try to do the right things," he said.
The right-handed batsman also said that he always puts belief over superstition.
Kohli, who is also known for wearing his emotions on his sleeves, said he also tends to get angry, like on the field, after being forced to be in a traffic jam.
"Nowadays I don't drive much. But earlier behind the wheels, I used to get angry at a traffic jam."