IND v SA | Once the mindset is fixed on helping the team first, the big scores will come, admits Virat Kohli

After leading India to a record 11th consecutive home-series win at Pune, extending their rampant run at the top of the ICC Test Championship in the process, India’s skipper Kohli is a happy man. And for the man who simply keeps running over individual milestones for fun, he credits it all to his mindset of putting the team first.

“The mindset is always to help the team and in that process, the big scores come. I think the moment you start thinking about the team, all the pressure goes away. I enjoy batting with Jinks (Rahane), he has a great mindset. We are probably the most successful Indian pair and the only reason is both of us play for the team. We take a lot of pride in that,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation, reported Cricbuzz.

With their fourth successive win in the Test Championship, India lead the points table with 200 points to their name. However, intentions do not change, in the slightest, for the world’s No.1 Test team as they head to Ranchi for the final Test, which starts on Saturday.

“It's been nice and looking at the larger picture - the Test Championship, every game has even more value. We are not going to take the foot off the gas in the third Test. We are looking for a result and hopefully make it 3-0. No-one's going to relax at any stage, that is a guarantee,” Kohli said.

Although his seventh double century stood out among all else and earned him the Man of the Match award, it was a combined effort from every single player in the side — across all three departments — that saw India crush the Proteas and maintain their numero uno status. 

“The good thing is that when we started, we were at number 7. The only way was up. We laid down a few things and are all lucky to have this group of players. In the last 3-4 years, it's amazing to see that hunger for all the guys to keep improving. Saha was back to his best, coming into Vizag you could see he was nervous. Ashwin has stepped up beautifully and it's guys willing to work hard on those one or two per cent things for the team,” Kohli added.