This is just the beginning, a foundation laid for the future: Virat Kohli

Team India skipper Virat Kohli looked a very happy man after having registered yet another series win this year. India clinically thumped England 4-0 to win all the Test series in 2016. Kohli, himself, led from the front and aggregated 655 runs to be adjudged as the Man of the Series. However, the dynamic Indian skipper believes that this is just a beginning of a new phase. He is keen on scaling new heights with this team.

With the win in the Chennai Test, India extended their unbeaten streak to 18 Tests now and also registered their highest ever series win over England. As quoted in Times of India, Virat Kohli remarked that barring the Australia ODI series and the World T20, 2016 has been great for the team.

“As a team we have had a very good 2016 apart from two setbacks. One was the ODI series in Australia and second was World T20. We won the Asia Cup, ODI series against New Zealand in India and won all the Test series. It’s been a memorable 2016 for the team and that’s something I am really proud of,” he quoted.

He further added that the win is just a foundation and not even a ‘tiny bit’ of what the team aspires to achieve. Skipper Kohli is hopeful for India to continue the good run in the time to follow.

“But this is just the foundation that’s been laid for us to carry on for lot many years. It’s just the beginning. It’s nothing that we want to achieve, it’s not even a tiny bit of that. We understand where we want to go and hopefully the guys can keep putting this kind of effort and take the team where it belongs,” added the Indian Test skipper.

However, he refused to call the team as ‘Virat’s Team India’. He quipped, “I can’t say that. How can I say that?”

Commenting specifically about the England series, Virat mentioned that India were against the odds in the first Test. They came back strong in the Tests that followed and won them despite losing the toss.

“I would say it’s a complete performance. From the time we were put under pressure in the first game to coming back and winning the next four Tests. We lost four tosses, including Rajkot but won three games out of that is very satisfying. As a captain, I feel it’s a complete series for us. Everyone contributed at different times, especially the lower-order’s contribution is something that stands out for me in this series,” said a very satisfied Kohli.

He further appreciated the efforts of youngsters in the team. He cited the example of how KL Rahul and Karun Nair stamped their authority in the team. “You can see their performance for yourself, especially Karun. Replacing a batsman like Ajinkya Rahane, who has been performing consistently in the last two years in Test cricket. To walk in and score a triple hundred. There couldn’t have been a bigger statement,” Kohli pointed out.