'If we have to share No. 1 spot with any other team, it would be New Zealand,' Kohli wins hearts with heartfelt speech
Virat Kohli was hailed for the heartfelt speech he gave when the Indian cricket team visited the Indian High Commission in Wellington on Wednesday.
The BCCI shared the video in which Kohli was seen giving a small speech about the friendly relations between the two nations and mutual respect both the cricket teams share for each other.
"We just heard a few words about mutual respect and admiration between the two countries, I couldn't agree more, you talked about the number 2 spot but if we have to share our number 1 spot with any other team it would be New Zealand," the Indian captain said.
Kohli also spoke about his bond with his counterpart Kane Williamson while he added that there will never be any "spite" between these two cricket teams even if things got intense during cricket encounters.
"In the last 4-5 years we have become a team who everyone wants to beat, New Zealand would be no different but the difference is that there won't be any spite in it and that's one reason why I can sit on the boundary line with Kane and talk about life in between a game," added Kohli.
Ahead of the Test series against New Zealand, #TeamIndia visits the Indian High Commission in Wellington. 🇮🇳🇳🇿
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 19, 2020
Talking about mutual admiration and respect between the two countries, listen to what @imVkohli has to say👌. @IndiainNZ pic.twitter.com/H3i7i0z9AW
Earlier in the ongoing tour, India and New Zealand locked horns in ODI and T20I series. Kohli and Williamson, who were not playing the fifth and final T20I, were spotted sitting and chatting near the boundary rope.
"Kane and I have similar mindsets, similar philosophies. It is amazing that despite being from different parts of the world, we have similar thinking and we speak the same language, we talked about life and the game," the Delhi cricketer further revealed.
The Indian team kick-started the tour by defeating the hosts 5-0 in the T20I series before the BlackCaps avenged the defeat by clinching the ODI series 3-0. The two sides are set to lock horns in the longest format next with the first Test starting on Friday in Wellington. It is a two-match Test series and the second game will be played from Feb. 29 at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
While the Kiwis will want to return to winning ways in the whites after their recent drubbing in Australia, while Kohli will look to become only third Indian captain to win a Test series in New Zealand.