Our objective should be to keep playing consistent cricket: Virat Kohli

India fans may be celebrating India’s rise to the top of the test rankings but India’s Test captain Virat Kohli is not overwhelmed by this achievement and played it down, saying it was more important to focus on being consistent during their long home season ahead.

“Getting to number one or dropping down is not always in our hands,” Kohli said after India displaced Pakistan at the top of ICC rankings with a series-clinching 178-run victory over New Zealand in the second Test at the Eden Gardens on Monday.

“Our objective should be to keep playing consistent cricket and back ourselves with both bat and ball, the way we did here in Kolkata. Rankings are just an incentive for what you do on the field. I didn’t even know how many points we needed to go to number one. We just want to win every game that we play.”

India’s impressive statistics at home over the last few years – the Kolkata win extended their undefeated streak to 13 on home soil; 12 of it have come under Kohli leadership. With a long home season scheduled to be played, there seemed to be no chance of them getting dethroned from the spot. India is due to play a minimum of nine more Tests after Indore at home this season – five versus England and four against Australia – with one more against Bangladesh likely to be squeezed in too.

A win or even a draw in the third and final Test in Indore from November 8 will ensure India remains on top of the rankings even if Pakistan beat West Indies 3-0 in their upcoming series in the United Arab Emirates. The newly-laid pitch at the Eden Gardens which favored both seamers and spinners due to the variable bounce gave the hosts a chance to showcase their all-round strength.

“It was a lovely Test match due to a brilliant Test wicket,” Kohli said. “A bit of variable bounce here and there, but it will get better and better as more matches are played on it. There is nothing like it if all your players perform,” said Kohli. “When everyone contributes it’s a happy environment, people are happy about what they have done.

“The more we play Test matches like this, the more we will understand how Tests can be won. So we have to keep repeating those things. That’s what consistency is. This is definitely up with hottest Test series I’ve been part of,” Taylor said. “A lot of Indian bowlers and batsmen were tired too because it was pretty hot and humid.

“In the ideal world, it would be good to send players and get exposure. It comes down to funding, but at least some players come for the IPL (Indian Premier League) and mix and mingle with the stars of today to get knowledge. Kohli said it will be cooler in Indore, so I’m happy.”