PUNE, India: India skipper Virat Kohli said hunger is important to maintain team’s success after the hosts won their record 11th-straight Test series after outplaying South Africa by an innings and 137 runs on Sunday.
“We are lucky to have the group of players we have in the last three-four years. It’s amazing to see that hunger and passion for all the guys to keep improving,” said man of the match Kohli.
Kohli’s unbeaten 254 shows the way
South Africa were dismissed for 189 after following-on in the final session of day four in Pune, as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
“Looking at the larger picture of the Test championship, every game has value so we’re not going to take our foot off the gas in the third Test. No one’s going to relax at any stage, that’s a guarantee,” add the Indian captain, who set up the win in the second match with his unbeaten 254.
It was his record seventh double-century as India declared 601 for five.
Kohli, who now has 7,054 runs from 81 Tests, put together crucial partnerships including a 225-run fifth-wicket stand with Jadeja, who made 91, to extend India’s dominance.
Yadav, Jadeja on song
Paceman Umesh Yadav and spinner Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each as India went past Australia’s previous record of 10 straight series wins on home turf and consolidated their number-one position in the world Test championship.
Ashwin struck twice in the morning session after the tourists started their second innings trailing by 326. He had skipper Faf du Plessis — who promoted himself to number four in the batting order — caught behind for five with wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha holding on to a juggling catch.
The off-spinner soon got opening batsman Dean Elgar caught for 48 as South Africa slipped further.
Ishant Sharma struck with his second ball of the day to trap Aiden Markram lbw for nought.
