Doing well in Tests gives immense job satisfaction, says Indian skipper Kohli

India skipper Virat Kohli, who struck his career’s maiden double ton on day two of the first Test against the West Indies, said getting big runs in the longest version gives him immense job satisfaction.
Kohli, who also became the first Indian captain to strike a double century in an overseas Test, said he was “extremely satisfied” to reach the feat where he made a forgettable debut five years ago.
“Yes, it is a very good feeling. I made my debut here and it wasn’t a memorable series for me. Coming back here and getting a double hundred gives me a lot of satisfaction purely because of the fact that I have missed a couple of big scores in the past,” Kohli, who had averaged just over 15 in the 2011 trip to the Caribbean told bcci.tv on Friday.
“I know I have the ability to get big hundreds. This is my first double hundred in first-class matches in general, so this is something I always wanted to do and I am feeling really grateful that I was able to cross the mark.
“It is just a very good feeling. Test cricket is the most important format as far as I am concerned and the whole of team is concerned, so when you do well in Test cricket, it gives you the job satisfaction like nothing else. I am really happy for this moment,” he added.
The 27-year-old, who is known to go with the five-bowler strategy for Test matches, said playing with one batsman short increases his responsibility as a captain to score big.
“It is very important to understand the responsibility in front of you when you go in with a combination. Playing five batsmen is a bit of an added pressure on the batsman but that is what we want to take up as a challenge.
“The batsmen decided to take up the responsibility. As captain, I would never ask the players to do what I cannot do myself first and I have always believed in that.
“I backed myself to be positive, backed myself to score quickly because I knew if we had to bowl the opposition out, we need enough time for the bowlers; to be fresh again and also have breaks in between. This was one innings that came together very nicely,” he said.
Hailing the batting effort from his players, the Delhi right-hander said: “All in all, it was a very good batting effort by everyone and something that we can be proud of. It is a bit of an added pressure (on the batsmen) but something that is what you want at this level of cricket,” he added.


Kohli’s double ton a classy knock: Viv Richards
North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda: West Indian legend Vivian Richards has hailed Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli’s maiden double century on day two of the first Test against the hosts as a “classy” knock.
“I think it was a magnificent hundred. To score a double hundred at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground is a formidable task in terms of what he has achieved,” Richards told the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) website on Friday.
“I remember when I met him at the hotel (before the Test series) I did say good luck, but I didn’t believe he would take it this far in terms of achieving a double. As a batsman myself, it was very pleasing to see and even though it was against the West Indies, I do appreciate seeing class and his was a classy knock,” he added.
Richards said he thoroughly enjoyed the Delhi batsman’s effort with the willow. Kohli scored 200 from 283 deliveries to guide India to a commanding 566/8 along with the other centurion Ravichandran Ashwin (113).
“I think it’s very special and for those of us here in Antigua and Barbuda (too), who appreciate seeing good knocks and seeing good batsmen perform.
“Those who weren’t here missed something, but I saw it and I am happy to say that it’s the first time I saw (Virat) Kohli make century and to see him complete the double. I was here to speak, so I had a very good seat and I thoroughly enjoyed that,” he said.