Kohli praises India's 'sweetest' win

As India annihilated England in the fourth Test in Mumbai to clinch their fifth consecutive series on home soil, skipper Virat Kohli expressed his relief the success will not be put down to pitches doctored to suit the home team.

While teams in the past have complained of dust bowls tailor-made for India's spinners, where visiting batsmen struggled to put bat to ball, England are unlikely to blame pitches for their woes, despite the dominance of prolific off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Quick single: India claim series after Ashwin blitz

None of the wickets so far in the series have been rank turners, with the Wankhede stadium providing an engaging contest between bat and ball as was evident from the 362 runs scored on the fourth day.

That England still crashed to defeat by an innings and 36 runs after making 400 runs in the first innings was due to India's overwhelming dominance after the first day.

India's previous two home series against South Africa and New Zealand were won on rank turners, but England were found wanting even after captain Alastair Cook won three of the four tosses.

"Pitches have been far truer than in the New Zealand series," said Kohli, the stand-out batsman in the series with 640 runs in four matches, including a brilliant 235 in Mumbai.

"All wickets have been good cricket wickets and we have had to play good cricket on them to win. The bowlers have had to work harder to get batsmen out and control the runs.

"The series win was the ultimate goal. It feels sweeter knowing that in the last three series England had outplayed us, and to beat a world class side like them is very satisfying as a captain and as a player.

"Of the five series so far, this has been the best because of the quality of the opposition and the kind of cricket we played."

Kohli's amazing form and Ashwin's 27 wickets in four Tests -- including a 12-wicket haul in Mumbai -- have been the cornerstone of India's dominance over England.

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Ashwin has already claimed 52 wickets in seven home Tests this season and looks set to torment batsmen in the remaining six games till March that feature one Test each against England and Bangladesh and four against Australia.

With 247 wickets from 43 Tests, the off-spinner will soon become the fastest to 250 wickets. The current record is held by Australian great Dennis Lillee who reached the landmark in 48 Tests.

"We are running out of words to describe Ashwin," said Kohli. "The batsmen have played second fiddle to his performances. Any team would love to have him."

The captain also gushed over the batting of the lower order which bailed India out right through the series, notably in Mumbai where the last four wickets put on 324 runs following a maiden century by number nine Jayant Yadav.

"The lower order's contribution with the bat has really been a key factor in the series," Kohli said. "Jayant's hundred was outstanding. It shows the belief he has in his game.

"It deflates the opposition when the lower order contributes. It also gives us the option of playing five bowlers and not worry where the runs will come from."

Quick single: Kohli douses Ashwin-Anderson fire

Kohli said he transformed as a Test batsman after returning from a poor series in England in 2014 when he made just 134 runs in five matches at an average of 13.40.

"The best advise I got was not to read or look up things that were being said about me," he said. "I am not joking and I am not being sarcastic, but that is the best advice I got.

"Somehow people enjoyed calling me not a good Test player and that motivated me to do better in this format. It helped being the captain because it took my mind off what was being said or written about me.

"I have worked hard at my game but it is the team that has helped me play the way I want to."

The fifth and final Test starts in Chennai on Friday.

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