Captain Virat Kohli has likened India’s historic Test series victory over Australia to triumph at the 2011 World Cup.

India completed a two-one series win in Sydney on Monday after the fourth and final Test ended in a rain-affected draw.

‘It has to be right on the top of the pile of my achievements. When we won the World Cup in 2011, I was the youngest member of the side. I saw people around me getting emotional, but I didn’t feel what they felt,’ said Kohli.

‘Having been to this country for the third time now, and to understand what we’ve achieved here has never been done before, we can be proud of it.

‘This win will give us a different identity as an Indian team and can inspire kids to do the same for the country.’

Batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was the series’ leading run-scorer with 521 in seven innings, while the young Rishabh Pant was second with 350. Opener Mayank Agarwal, meanwhile, relished a superb maiden Test series en route to 195 in three.

‘We spoke about as a team that we just wanted to go back to the basics, and not be flamboyant, but have the old hard grind for runs. A special mention to Pujara,’ added Kohli.

‘He has been outstanding this series, after the kind of series he had last time when he came here. He’s one guy who was willing to accept things, take it in his stride and work on his game.

“He’s one of the nicest guys around. I’m happy for him. Also a special mention to Mayank. He stepped in and batted like a champion. To come in for the Boxing Day Test and play the way he did against a high-quality attack speaks volumes of the mindset and belief he has.

‘As a batting unit, everyone contributed at different times. Rishabh coming in and dominating attacks like that augers well. Once batsmen start scoring, we knew our bowlers can be relentless and lethal.’

Australia and India will meet for three ODIs, the first of which will be played in Sydney on Saturday.

Photo: Getty