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Kohli: We're not here to write headlines

Cape Town - In the high pressure role of India skipper, sometimes a man needs to let off some steam. That is something Virat Kohli has come to master almost as well as chasing a target in an ODI.

Kohli's sparring with journalists, most often from his own country, is if nothing else highly entertaining. 

Even after an emphatic series win the tension between Kohli and the scribes is almost tangible.

Having completed a first ever bilateral ODI series win, Kohli was keen to remind journalists gathered at Supersport Park on Friday how hard they had been on his team when, at the same venue, they went 2-0 down in the Test series.

"One month back we were a very bad team," Kohli said.

"Now we are being asked these questions [which glorify the team]. We haven't changed our mindset. We have just focused on our cricket.

"I don't want to get lost in such thoughts: whether this is the biggest win or not. Our work is to play the game, strive hard, our work is to perform and try to win every match. 

"For us as a team, our only motive is to give 120% effort, strive hard in practice, keep our mindset good on every day of the tour and prepare so well that we can go and win. 

"We have achieved that this series, and that gives us most happiness. 

"Creating these tags or headlines is not our work. We just wanted to play cricket, which we have executed perfectly this series.

"I know for a fact that 90% of the people didn't give us a chance after two Tests. I was sitting in the same room giving a press conference. 

"So we understand where we've come from. I'm not going to live in a dreamland right now and accept all the praise and sit here and feel good about this because it doesn't matter to me. 

"Honestly, it doesn't. It didn't matter when we were 2-0 down [in the Tests], it doesn't matter when we're 5-1 up. 

"Because what matters is the respect in the change room. What matters is what the management thinks about me, what I think about the players and what the players think about me. 

"I know the headlines change day in and day out. Tomorrow I play a bad shot and get out for zero, everyone will conveniently do what they want to do."

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