With an overall lead of 244 and a wicket still remaining, New Zealand may be in a good position to dictate terms, but centurion Virat Kohli feels that India can easily push for a 2-0 series win with two full days left in the second and final Test match in Bangalore. New Zealand were 232 for nine at stumps with a overall lead of 244 after the third day's play.
"When you have lot of time you don't think about the target. You just play normal cricket. If you think to bat three-four sessions, then we should be in a really good position to win the match," Kohli told reporters after the day's play.
Kohli also said there was hardly anything in the wicket except the fact that the Kiwi seamers used the freshness of it in first hour of the morning session on Sunday to bundle India all out for 353 to take a narrow 12-run first innings lead.
"If we take an early wicket and apply ourselves to bat well, we will be in a good position," he insisted.
Kohli said the game is tilted in India's favour after the bowlers put on a magnificent show taking nine wickets by close of play.
Ashwin snared five for 69 on an action-packed third day, which saw as many as 14 wickets fall in Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
On his hundred on Sunday, Kohli said it was as satisfying as getting his first hundred against Australia at Adelaide.
"The hundred in Adelaide was special because I did not have that feeling before or after and I felt the same today," he said.
Kohli added that getting a hundred is more satisfying when a batsman's patience and technique is tested at a time when the team is in trouble.
Asked whether he felt the pressure with top order batsmen constantly failing, Kohli said that he enjoyed playing in such circumstances as the bowlers could offer chances bowling an attacking line.
"The bowlers may not give that much chance when you walk in with 180 for two on board. The bowlers may have different strategy to restrict batsmen from scoring," he said.
PTI
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