Virat Kohli claims his 149 runs is test of physical and mental strength

“We are here to fight, we are here to compete,” Virat Kohli said after his 149 helped India fight back hard against England in the Edgbaston Test.

The lead up to the five-match Test series between India and England has been dominated by talk of Kohli’s poor run on the 2014 tour, when he scored 134 runs in 10 innings.

The 29-year-old India captain, however, put doubts to rest by scoring a fantastic century to lift India from 100/5 to 274, his 149 accounting for well over half the team’s runs, in reply to England’s 287.

Exhausted, but pleased, after his monumental effort, Kohli said that it was a massive “test of physical and mental strength”, but satisfying at the end of the day.

“I tried to prepare the best that I can and help my team the best way possible,” Kohli told bcci.tv. “It wasn’t just about getting to the three-figure mark but to continue from there.

“It was difficult, but I told myself that it was important to enjoy this, take it upon me as a challenge to take the team innings far and take the innings deep. So it was a test of physical and mental strength. But I am glad we could come close to their total and we are pretty much in the game. When you help the team that way, it obviously feels great.”

Kohli also commended efforts of the lower-order batsmen, who hung around for Kohli to score the big runs.

“I have to commend the tail as well,” said Kohli. “Hardik (Pandya) batted really well after we lost five. Ishant (Sharma) and Umesh (Yadav) applied themselves. It was a fantastic effort from them also, so I have to give a lot of credit to them for getting us this close.

“They got stuck in there and supported me really well, and I could feel confident about them being out there, which is very important. I am very, very proud of both of them as well and very happy with the effort.”

When asked whether this was his best Test century, Kohli said that it came a close second to the 141 he scored against Australia in Adelaide in December 2014 when India were chasing 364 to win in the final innings.

“This could probably come in second to Adelaide,” said Kohli with a smile. “Adelaide still remains very special to me because it was second innings and we were chasing a target and we had total clarity that we are going for the target. Not once did I think we are not. That was a beautiful zone to be in. “But, today, I am very happy and very grateful for having this opportunity to help the team this way and pull us back in the Test match and compete. We are here to fight, we are here to compete and that’s what we are here to do.”