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Pune, October 13
India captain Virat Kohli believes his mindset as a batsman changed after being handed the captaincy and the extra responsibility is the reason for his imperious run-scoring ability. “It’s getting the responsibility of being captain,” Kohli said at the presentation ceremony.
“If you go out planning a double hundred you will not get it but if you just go out planning to play five sessions for your team you invariably cross that 200 mark as well. The mindset is always to help the team as much as possible, play at a tempo the team requires you to and in that process big scores come. The mindset change is the only reason behind getting the big scores,” he added.
Kohli was handed the Test captaincy in abrupt fashion at the start of 2015 when long-serving skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from Test cricket midway through a series in Australia. Kohli already has more Test wins than Dhoni while leading the side in fewer matches. His unbeaten 254 in India’s only innings is Kohli’s personal best in Test cricket, while he also has an astounding 43 centuries in the 50-overs format. “I am at a stage in my career now where I am just happy to be playing the way I am and contributing for my team,” he said. “Putting the team in a commanding position is the only goal and that’s the only thing I strive for. I love scoring runs but if they come in a winning cause that’s the most important thing.”
Left-arm spinner George Linde will replace the injured Keshav Maharaj in South Africa’s squad for the third and final Test against India in Ranchi. — Reuters
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