Virat Kohli: We have nothing to prove in South Africa

Virat Kohli

'Hisaab 25 saal ka' [payback for 25 years], is how the broadcasters have titled their campaign for India's upcoming South Africa Test tour. India have never won a Test series in South Africa in the last 25 years since they first clashed in 1992-93. The best result India managed was in 2010-11 when they drew a three-Test series 1-1.

As Team India embarks on another tour to South Africa, expectations are sky high for Virat Kohli's men to register their maiden Test series as they head into the New Year on the back of a near-flawless 2017 and a very successful home season. While the next 18 months in which Team India will tour South Africa, England and Australia are viewed as defining moments of Indian cricket, Kohli preferred to take a pragmatic approach. "We know what we want to do as a team. When you do things in conditions that are more challenging, it gives you more job satisfaction. That's for sure. But any game you play anywhere, it gives you satisfaction.

"We have got rid of all the mental pressure of touring abroad and wanting to prove [things] to people. We don't want to prove anything to anyone. Our duty is to go out there and give our 100 per cent effort for the country and get the desired results.

"Sometimes it will happen and sometimes it may not happen. It can happen at home and away as well. We need to be realistic with what we are doing. That's the only way to keep ourselves in the present and execute the things we want to. We are just going out there to play cricket. It does not matter whether we are in South Africa, England, Australia or India," said the Indian skipper.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here

Download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go