For Virat Kohli, good is not good enough. There is a constant strive to become the best and it is that kind of energy that is oozing among all the players in the team. India now begin a marathon home season that will comprise 13 Test matches that will challenge their attitude and desire to become the best going forward. For captain Kohli, the start of the huge home season holds great importance. “This season can be career-defining for the all the players in the squad. We've hardly played 17 Test matches regularly. We have played on and off. That's something we are happy about, that we can plan our Test cricket and test ourselves and earn our victories.” Adding on Kohli said, “This season is a phase where we can lay a foundation as to where the Test team can go or Test cricket can go as far as India is concerned. We believe we certainly have what it takes to be the best team in the world. One area we have tapped into is belief. It’s something that a lot of young players can lack coming into international cricket – there can be a lot of insecurities, like ‘Whether I’ll play in the next game or whether my position is secure or not?’. It’s all about them getting rid of that feeling. Kohli was also of the view that it was important for every individual in the team to have tremendous self-belief and have a hunger to perform and represent the country for a long period of time. Add to it some fearless cricket and Kohli assured results will be there to be seen. “When you step on to the pitch, you need to tell yourself, ‘I own this position for the next 8-10 years in Test cricket for India’. That’s the only way you can go out there, be confident and express yourself. Express how good you are, and that’s what this team has done. That’s why we’ve been able to win seven-odd Test matches in the last 13 or 14 that we played – because we wanted to go out there and play bold cricket and take some risks. More often than not, if you’re fearless, the results will fall your way because you’re willing to take that extra risk during the course of the game. “I certainly feel that this team has what it takes to be the best,” the Test captain said instilling belief in his side. “What it requires is sustained concentration, attention to detail, practicing the same way everyday and do boring things. At this level, you need to be boring if want to be successful, as simple as that. Your training, your practice, the way you prepare for games should not change. Whoever can do that for a sustained period of time will obviously be a very good side and this team has the potential to do that.” Ahead of the long season, India’s first challenge unfolds against New Zealand at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur. Spin is expected to play a key role in the outcome of the Test match and Kohli was certain his side was well equipped to play spin under these conditions. “The team wants to improve that aspect of the game. It is something that we surely need to get stronger at. We are putting in more effort, to face the spinners longer in nets and practicing small things by ourselves - someone might sweep, someone might play off the backfoot - whatever it is. We are trying to improve that part of our game slowly. If you want to be a champion side, you don't want to give the opposition any window to get into the game.”

When asked if there was anything specific that the team was doing to counter spin, Kohli was of the view that a positive approach towards that aspect was key. “I think what’s really important is to find the balance between being positive and being solid at the same time. If someone is bowling a good spell you want to pay respect to the bowler, but not so much that you get under pressure. You don’t want to defend too much and eventually feel like ‘I could have attacked more’ when you get out. So it’s a right balance of putting the bowler under pressure and at the same time respecting the good balls that he bowls. And that requires a lot of concentration. We have to be more watchful and more focussed throughout the day. There is no room for complacency; you cannot relax at any stage.” Fitness too played an equal part according to Kohli. “We work on our fitness levels so that the body can support what we want to do. Bat through the whole day or two days, you need a fit physique and that’s what the boys have been working on and it’s been going really good. That has certainly improved our focus levels and we have been able to play out difficult situations in the best way possible. So it’s a combination of a lot of things, but I think the key is to maintain that balance between being positive and at the same time, being solid and playing through a difficult situation for the team.” Kohli’s assessment of the New Zealand side too was precise. “They’re a pretty good side. They play good, positive cricket, that’s what we have seen in the last couple of years. One thing that stood out for me in their mentality was that cricket wasn’t the end of the world for them. They just enjoyed the game. That, I think is a very difficult thing to go and execute on the pitch. You might speak about those things away from the field but when you’re in the ground, in the heat of the moment, emotions, pressure, insecurity do take over. I think they were able to detach themselves from those pressures, and that’s why they were so successful in the last couple of years. They played some really good cricket, built a good side. “Kane Williamson has been leading the side really well and he’s a very exciting cricketer himself. We expect really good competition and good, hard-fought cricket. They’re a side that doesn’t give up and they have pretty skilful players in their team. So we’re very wary of that, but at the same time we’re aware of our strengths as well. Both teams need to focus on their respective strengths and whoever trails first obviously hands over the advantage to the other team. That’s what Test cricket is all about."