'Not playing to change history' – Kohli plays down maiden series win

For Kohli's India, the New Year's Test of 2019 will mark a full circle. It was at the Sydney Cricket Ground three years ago, in 2015, that Kohli took over the reigns of the team full time after MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket.

After three years of perseverance, the team is the No.1-ranked side in the world and on the cusp of winning their first Test series on Australian soil. Victories in Adelaide and Melbourne ended India's 2018 on a high and another one in Sydney – or even a draw – will help them achieve what no other Indian team has done.

"It will be a big series win if it happens because this is the place where we started our transition – this venue," Kohli recalled at the pre-match press conference in Sydney ahead of the final Test that begins on 3 January.

"When MS gave up captaincy, we had a totally young side starting with [the team at] No.6 or 7 in the world. And [now] we come back here as the No.1 side in the world. We want to be able to take that legacy forward and play the kind of cricket we have played in this series, which has been exciting for people to watch as well as for both teams competing."

Yet, it wasn't about chasing history, Kohli insisted. "If you ask me very honestly, no," he said when asked if the possibility of being the first to win a Test series in Australia is playing on the team's mind.

"The reason why we want to win this Test is because we understand as cricketers how difficult it is to come here and play. It's not only the team you're playing against, it's the whole nation – they get behind their team so well.

"And when you walk in to bat you feel like 40,000 people want your wicket and not just the 11 guys on the field. So to take that challenge on, we want to win here. It's got nothing to do with proving we have done something which hasn't been done in the past. The motivation has never been to change history."

For the final Test, Ravichandran Ashwin's injury has put him in doubt, while India have decided to leave out Ishant Sharma from their 13. Rohit Sharma will also miss the Test owing to the birth of his daughter, leaving India without three experienced players.

Yet, Kohli showed confidence in his side, especially the batting. "Every time we have played well, you can notice the body language of all the batsmen walking in, you see the way they defend the ball and even leave the ball – there's intent," Kohli explained. "And that can only come when you're absolutely positive in your head and so sure of yourself that you can do what the team wants you to do."

The intent was on show in Melbourne where a new opening pair of Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari managed to see off the new ball in the first innings and lay the foundation for Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane to capitalise and put on a big score, which they eventually did.

With Rohit and Ishant out of the Test, India have named KL Rahul in their 13-man squad for the final Test, which could mean that Vihari, who has also doubled up as an off-spinner, could occupy a middle-order spot. This leaves India with a chance to play two spinners as the SCG surface is expected to assist spin.

"The wicket is usually good for batting on the first two days and then reverse swing and spin come into play," Kohli said of his assessment of the pitch. "Seeing how hot it is out there, the wicket will show it's true nature from day three onwards.