Kohli lauds India’s ‘hunger’
PUNE: India skipper Virat Kohli said on Sunday the team’s “hunger” to keep improving has led to their record 11thstraight Test series win at home after outplaying South Africa by an innings and 137 runs.
South Africa were dismissed for 189 after following-on in the final session of day four in Pune as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the threematch series.
India have not lost a home series since 2013.
Paceman Umesh Yadav and spinner Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each as India went past Australia’s previous record of 10 straight series wins on home turf and consolidated their number-one position in the world Test championship.
Kohli set up the win in the second match with his unbeaten 254 — a record seventh double-century for the star batsman — in India’s 601 for five declared, but the captain lauded the team effort.
“We are lucky to have the group of players we have in the last three-four years. It’s amazing to see that hunger and passion for all the guys to keep improving,” man of the match Kohli said after the win.
“Looking at the larger picture of the Test championship, every game has value so we’re not going to take our foot off the gas in the third Test. No one’s going to relax at any stage, that’s a guarantee.”
The match will also be remembered for Kohli going past Don Bradman’s tally of 6,996 runs.
Kohli, who now has 7,054 runs from 81 Tests, put together crucial partnerships including a 225-run fifth-wicket stand with Jadeja, who made 91, to extend India’s dominance.