Dharamsala : Indian captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday said he no longer considers Australian cricketers his friends after being targeted both on and off the field by them in a fiercely-fought Test series that his team won.
At the end of the rubber, which India won 2-1, an Australian scribe asked if Kohli still considered Smith’s men his friends off the field as he had said at the start of the series, the skipper gave a no holds barred answer.
“No, it has changed for sure. I thought that was the case but it has changed for sure. As I said in the heat of the battle, you want to be competitive but yeah I have been proven wrong. The thing I said before the first Test, I have certainly been proven wrong and you won’t hear me say that ever again,” Kohli said.
He also described the 2-1 triumph over Australia as his side’s best series win so far, saying his highly motivated teammates give it right back when poked.
“Regardless of whether we are on top or not, we speak, if something pokes us we speak and give it right back. All people don’t digest it well but we take it very well and we give it back even better,” Kohli told ‘Star Sports’ after the fourth Test here, which he missed owing to a shoulder injury.
“Some people want to create some spice sitting at some part of the world. The easiest thing to do is to just sit at home and write a blog or speak on Mic but to go out there and bowl and bat is different,” he said.
Kohli said he was thoroughly enjoying the responsibility of leading a motivated side.
“It’s been unbelievable. This is our best series win so far. The way we bounced back from World No 7 to No. 1 has been outstanding achievement and I am proud as a captain. I thought (the series against) England was intense, but the way Australia gave us a fight it was amazing on their part but our guys kept bouncing back. we showed true character and maturity. The guys handled themselves well,” he added.
The changes we made in our fitness regimen have paid off. Guys have been able to sustain the performance throughout the season. In the past, we have had sessions where we have given away the game easily. Not this season. It has been a team season. Not one or two individuals who have stood out, says Virat.
