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'Winning a Test series has a huge impact on the mindset of players'

December 10, 2015 18:40 IST

India's skipper Virat Kohli with teammates Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja during a training session

IMAGE: India's skipper Virat Kohli with teammates Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja during a training session. Photograph: PTI

Virat Kohli has hoped that India's 3-0 win over South Africa in the just-concluded Test series will have a positive impact on the young team.

"It has a positive and huge impact on the mindset of players, because as I said, it all started in Australia because of the kind of belief with which we went there and the kind of cricket that we played there. It gave us the confidence that we can beat any side in the world," explained the Test captain.

"That sort of mindset is important to win Tests and series. If you win one Test match, it can turn around pretty quickly. We saw that in Sri Lanka. That was major boost for our mental set-up. This is the icing on the cake. An achievement we can be proud of," he added, lauding his players.

"Ashwin, Umesh, Varun, Mishra, our top four batsmen are not so far away from each other. Everyone is contributing, which is essence of any good team, that's why we have been able to win the last two series," Kohli said.

Virat Kohli during an India nets session

IMAGE: Virat Kohli during an India nets session. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Talking about Australia, Kohli explained that the kind of fight they put on Down Under set the tone for this young side.

"Test cricket has been one format where we all have wanted to do well. Like to give credit to the team to show character and bounce back in last two series like the way we have. I feel that it all began in Australia for us, the way we played there.

"We showed character even in defeats. We had a few plans, things that we needed to do in order to do well and gave everyone responsibility that you have to give your 110 percent effort every single day. 

"You are being honest to work ethics team requires going out there to play the best cricket that one can play. Not focusing on opposition too much, not on what people were saying. We focused on our skills. Strong bond that team requires," the skipper explained.

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