IND v SA | We look for answers, not excuses, maybe that’s why we keep improving, says Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli believes that the reason the Indian team keeps on improving their record in Test cricket is that they hunt for answers and not offer excuses. India are on top of the ICC Test Championship table with 160 points, but Kohli said that he would prefer double points for away wins.
India’s home season of cricket got underway in near-perfect fashion in Vizag when they beat the visiting South Africans by 203 runs. Prior to the second of the three-match series in Pune, several people commented that India’s dominance at home was due to the conditions being heavily in their favour. Addressing the media on the eve of the second Test, the Indian skipper stressed that it was not so.Â
“Well, it’s quite evident that we have the quality of players that we have already. Plus, we know very well how to play in our conditions — how we need to win Test matches. Look, it is not easy for us as a home side as well you know when the conditions are challenging. You know, when the ball is spinning, even we have found it difficult in the past," Kohli said pre-match, reported Republic.Â
“But we are a team that looks for answers and not excuses. So maybe that’s the reason why we keep improving and we have been winning so many Test matches. We don’t take anything for granted for sure. We can very well be losing 4-5 wickets in a session, so we know that as well as a team. And we work pretty hard on our game also, even though we play in our home conditions,” Kohli stated. Â
While Kohli has admitted repeatedly that he is happy with the introduction of a championship format in Test cricket as it forces teams to go for wins in every game, he proposed that perhaps the points for an away victory should be doubled.Â
"If you would have asked me to make the points table, I would give double the points for an away Test win. That is something I would definitely like to see maybe after the first edition," Kohli said.
India is leading the table with 160 points, courtesy 120 from their 2-0 sweep in the Caribbean and 40 gained from the win against South Africa in Vizag.
"Look, the importance of every game has become that much more. In earlier situations, in a three-match series, you probably would have played out a draw, but teams are going to go for wins and get those extra points. So, I think it's great for Test cricket," Kohli said.
"The matches are going to be that much more exciting is what we all feel and already experienced that. We have to be professional in every session that we play. It will be much more demanding on the players now, which is a good thing as it will keep the standard of Test cricket high. These are the only things that we have experienced so far in terms of changes," Kohli added.