Virat Kohli's India is not only the No.1 ranked Test side but also at the top of World Test Championship points table and the skipper says it wouldn't have been possible if the current lot of players didn't have the inspirational side led by Sourav Ganguly at the beginning of this century to look up to.
Under Ganguly, India significantly overcame the controversial spot-fixing scandal and with a golden generation of players coming together, went eye to eye with the best of opponents, defeating them home and away.
It is that sheer quality to never back down from the challenge, Kohli says, is something, his team also really prides itself on having clinched Test victories in South Africa, England and a rare series win in Australia besides continuing the nation's longstanding home dominance.
"Test cricket is a mental battle, we all know that. I mean in the past nobody was trying to injure or hurt the batsman. It was all about getting into their heads and getting them out which used to happen, but now we have learnt to stand up and give it back. It all started with Dada's team and we are just carrying it forward," the captain said after his battery of fast bowlers skittled Bangladesh twice in a little over 70 overs to win by an innings and 46 runs in Kolkata in India's first-ever D/N Test this Sunday (November 24).
Where Kohli's India is different, though, is that it has world-class pacemen fashioning the team's victories, and not just spin.
"The bowling group now is fearless and they believe in themselves playing against any batsman. We are reaping the rewards for all the hard work we put in the last 3-4 years. When the team is in sync you need to say much. These guys know what exactly they need to do."
Virat himself has been leading from the front and scored a fantastic ton in this game.
"Conditions were challenging with the pink ball under lights," he said. "It puts you in a situation to get your technique right and get into that Test match mode try to see off the situation and that's the fun of Test matches when bowlers put you under pressure and you eventually come on top and score runs."
(Inputs from Cricbuzz)
