Winning a Test match is a different feeling to anything else you experience: Virat Kohli

After failing to clinch the Test series in South Africa in 2021, star India batter Virat Kohli decided to relinquish his position as the captain of the side. Rohit Sharma took over the role and has done reasonably well but winning a Test series in South Africa remains to be a topmost priority, as India never won a Test series there. Ahead of the first Test, which is slated to begin on Tuesday, December 26, in Centurion, Kohli opened up on the importance of red-ball cricket and what it means to him.

The 35-year-old mentioned that winning a Test match means everything to him, and explained that it is a completely different feeling to anything one ever experiences. He added that the cricketers give their everything for the four-five days and hence, there’s a different satisfaction for the players when they emerge victorious.

“Test cricket to me is the foundation of the game - its history, its culture, its heritage, it’s everything. To come out of the other side at the end of four days, five days - whatever the Test goes on, it’s a different feeling to anything else you experience as an individual, as a team. The job satisfaction of having played a long innings for your team. Making your team win a Test match is probably the most special for me.”

“I am a traditionalist, you can say. So, playing in whites, playing Test cricket is everything. That’s what I have grown up on, and I am really honoured that I have been able to play more than 100 Test matches for my country,” Kohli said in a video released by Star Sports.

You have to be at your best on all five days to win a Test match: Rohit Sharma

Skipper Rohit Sharma has a tough job in his hands when India take on South Africa for the two-match series. He could be the first Indian captain to win a Test series in South Africa, but ahead of that, the 36-year-old opened up on the importance of red-ball cricket and how everyone needs to be at their best on all five days to win a match.

“Test cricket is obviously a very, very special format. As a sportsman, you want to be challenged every day and you have to be best on all five days to win a Test match. So, Test cricket to me is the real test of everything that you have as a person, as a cricketer and as a sportsman,” Rohit shared his thoughts on the purest format of the game.