India skipper Virat Kohli on Friday clarified that there is no "policy" of preparing spinning tracks but playing on placid batting wickets will never produce match-winning bowlers.
"It is not a policy. It is the conditions that we get in India. Otherwise playing Test matches and making 500 runs…..You don't create bowlers like that and win Tests matches. They key is to win Test matches as I have said this before. Wherever you go in the world, you should be prepared to face those conditions and tune your game accordingly," Kohli was categorical in his reply at the post-match press conference.
In fact he could not hide his sarcasm at the double standards at those who were sceptical about India not playing enough on spinner-friendly wickets after they lost to Sri lanka at Galle.
"I saw some time back when we collapsed in Galle (Sri lanka) someone said that we have improved our fast bowling play, but we don't know how to play spinners and now when we are playing in spin-friendly conditions this is a problem as well. I don't know where we find a balance," the hint of sarcasm was evident in his voice.
He also took a dig at former players from other countries (without taking names) as to how they are being critical about a pitch sitting thousand miles away from here.
"I don't know why there is so much hype about this issue. A lot of people are writing a lot of things about the pitch, that it should not be like this, or it's turning too much. (There are) people sitting in other countries and speaking about pitches in India," a livid Kohli said at the post match media conference.
Kohli said that Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis today showed that if there was application, then one could even survive on this strip.
"It is just a matter of mindset. People are giving their opinion and they are free to do so. But we don't feel that way. Today was a classic example of two guys (South Africa captain Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis) applying themselves and showing that it can be done," Kohli pointed out to his detractors.
Just like his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin had said that Indian players never complained about the pitches that they got overseas, the skipper also decided to speak in the same vein.
"We have never complained when we had challenging conditions and we won't complain in future either. We try to improve our game. It is always just the matter of us not having the technique or mental strength to cope with conditions away from home. When these sorts of things happen everyone talks about undue home advantage.
"People can talk about it or can choose not to talk about it. The fact is that we have won the series. We won two Test matches. We have sealed the series and we are happy about it," Kohli said.
He also pointed out that in the recent past all teams had done well at home only, barring a team like South Africa, which tasted a Test series defeat overseas after a nine-year unbeaten run featuring 14 away series.
"If you see the stats of any team in the last few years, they are dominating at home. That's how Test cricket has gone. Whoever has won away from home is the no one or 2 side. That shows lot of character; it would not happen every time.
"This is a side that has not lost for nine years. It is very hard to maintain that sort of record. Credit to them, they have not lost for nine years, but I will give credit to our boys to have put an equal amount of pressure on them in the course of three Tests matches and winning the series. I don't see anything more or less to that," he said.
Don't mind compromising on avg for win
Triumphant India captain Virat Kohli hit out at a suggestion that the batting of the home team was "ugly" while the bowlers have succeeded after his side clinched an 124-run in the third Test to take a 2-0 winning lead over South Africa.
"I don't think our displays have been ugly, let me state that first. It's a harsh word to use. It's been lack of application. And secondly, I don't mind compromising on (batsmen's) averages as long as we are winning Test matches. I think that's our main concern," said Kohli said.
He recalled that though the performances of the batsmen were not great in the previous Test series in Sri lanka, the team still managed to return home with a 2-1 series win after losing the opener at Galle.
"In Sri lanka our performances weren't that great with the bat but we still won the series. It's the bowlers who are going to win you Test matches, as simple as that. If you don't take 20 wickets, you can have an average of 55, it doesn't matter. These small contributions and team winning are more important rather than having an average of 50 and above and bowlers not being able to take wickets. I think you need to find an appropriate balance and sometime small contributions are more important than the big hundreds that we get in Test cricket," he added to buttress his point.
‘Ashwin main reason behind success’
Having won back-to-back Test series against Sri lanka and now South Africa, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been the reason behind team's recent success in longer format.
"Ashwin is a world-class spinner, he stepped up in a big way for us, even in Sri lanka. He is been one of the main reasons why we are able to win back-to-back series. He is a consistent performer for us. It's a pleasure to have someone like Ashwin on the side." he said.