Test captain Virat Kohli rates India's performance in the Test series in Australia last December-January as 'very, very special' and his knock in the Adelaide Test as one of the best of his career.
"What we were able to do in Australia was very, very special to me, not just the way I performed but the whole team.
"The kind of cricket we played is something that is the probably the most special time of my life till now; it will probably remain so.
"I hope we can better that, but, to play with such heart and such passion, I would like to complement the whole team on that; to maintain that on the whole tour was commendable and that motivated me further to go out there and do what I can do best," said Kohli on Tuesday, at the BCCI's annual awards, in Mumbai, where he was presented the Polly Umrigar award on being named Cricketer of the Year.
Kohli picked his century in the second innings of the fourth Test in Adelaide as one of his special innings.
He hit a century in each innings, including a splendid 141 in the second, as India fell short by 48 runs after being set 348 for victory.
In the process, he also became the second Indian batsman after Vijay Hazare to score two hundreds (116 and 148 in 1947-48) in a Test at Adelaide.
Kohli, in his first match as Indian captain, almost won the match single-handledly. He scored centuries in both innings and dominated Australia's bowlers on a pitch favouring spin.
"I heard before that when you play international cricket you just work hard and one odd day things just happen for you. I think you prepare the same way for every innings, for every game, but some days you play as if you were possessed.
"I didn't have any thought process in my head, all I had was the target, which was 367; that was all I had in my head and it was all we wanted to achieve. I didn't pay attention to 50, 100; I was watching the ball and reacting accordingly, probably one of the better mindsets while batting that I have been," he said, recalling the innings, on the eve of Indian team's departure for Australia for a five-ODI and three-match T20 series.
Kohli also slammed an imperious century to steer India to a thumping 76-run victory over Pakistan in their opening World Cup match in Adelaide in February.
"It was very special indeed, especially against Pakistan it is always a massive game, especially the first game of the World Cup after the tri-series where we didn't play very well.
"I remember waking up on the morning of the game and doing my preparations. I opened my room window in Adelaide and I see the bridge that connects the ground to the hotel and I see about 3000 people there with their flags, their musical instruments and what not. It just hit me that I had to be in the stadium in three hours, playing in front of these people. I saw the frenzy there, but that's the fun of it.
"I challenge myself to go out there and do what is best for the team, probably get quick runs, and I was able to do that and I was really happy."
