Rohit Sharma Credits Virat Kohli for Making India a Top Test Team

Rohit Sharma, 34, is India's 35 Test captain.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli share a light moment.

Image: BCCI

India captain Rohit Sharma had only good things to say about his teammate Virat Kohli on the eve of his landmark 100th Test, adding that the former captain deserves all the credit for putting the team in a good position in the format.

Rohit will begin his stint as Test captain in Mohali against Sri Lanka on Friday.

"As a Test team, we stand in a good position. Whole credit goes to Virat for how we have been as a Test team. I have to take it from where he has left," Rohit said during the pre-match press-conference, his first as Test skipper.

"It's been an absolutely brilliant journey for him. A long one since the time he made his debut and to now go and play his 100th game, it's been a long journey and a wonderful one. He's done exceedingly well in this particular format, changed so many things in the way team is moving forward and all of that."

"It's been brilliant to watch that and it's one hell of a ride for him and will continue to be in years to come. We definitely want to make it special one for him; we all are prepared for that. Let's hope we have a good five days of cricket."

Talking about his standout memory of Kohli in Test cricket, Sharma mentioned the Johannesburg Test in 2013, which ended in a thrilling draw. "As a team, I think the series we won in 2018 was very good for us and Virat was the captain there. As an individual, I think the best memory as a batter I remember is his Test hundred (119) against South Africa in 2013. The pitch where we were playing the match was very challenging and had lots of bounce."

"All of us boys were playing in South Africa for the very first time. To go there and to face someone like Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, (Vernon) Philander and Jacques Kallis, it was never going to be easy. But the way he batted in that match and hit a century in the first innings and was also out around the 90s (96 in the second innings), I think it was one of the best knocks of his that I clearly remember. He had a century at Perth in 2018. But I think this beats that knock and for me, it is his best knock."

Speaking about Test regulars Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who have been dropped from the squad for this series, Rohit said their contribution in making India a top was immense.

"Never easy to fill in big shoes of Rahane and Pujara. You can't put it in words what they have done for team. All those overseas victories, we becoming No.1, they played big part. It's just for now, we didn't consider them," Rohit said.