Virat Kohli reveals responsibility of India captaincy brings the best out of his batting

Star batsman's numbers have improved dramatically since taking leadership duties

Virat Kohli, center, led India to series victory over South Africa in Pune. AP

Virat Kohli revealed his mindset as a batsman changed after he was handed the added responsibility of captaincy.

Kohli has been unstoppable with the bat in white and red-ball cricket, averaging 50 in T20s, 55 in Tests and 60 in ODIs. Kohli extended his purple patch during the Test series against South Africa, registering his seventh double ton in the second Test in Pune. Kohli scored his first double ton in his 42nd Test against the West Indies in 2016 while his latest was his seventh in his 81st Test.

In the Pune Test, Kohli crossed the 7,000-run mark and also secured his 30th win in his 50th match in charge. Kohli, 30, has been in vintage form in all three formats and his numbers have only improved since he was made captain; looking at all three formats together, Kohli's average jumps from 49 – as just batsman – to 67 as leader.

"It's getting the responsibility of being captain," Kohli was quoted as saying by Reuters.

"If you go out planning a double hundred you will not get it but if you just go out planning to play five sessions for your team you invariably cross that 200 mark as well.

"The mindset is always to help the team as much as possible, play at a tempo the team requires you to and in that process big scores come. The mindset change is the only reason behind getting the big scores."

Kohli was handed the Test captaincy in 2015 when Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from the format. He already has more Test wins than Dhoni – 30 compared to 27 – while leading in fewer matches.

Kohli is the only batsman to average more than 50 in all three formats. But for him, contributing in winning causes is what matters.

"I am at a stage in my career now where I am just happy to be playing the way I am and contributing for my team," he said. "Putting the team in a commanding position is the only goal and that's the only thing I strive for.

"I love scoring runs but if they come in a winning cause that's the most important thing."

South African captain Faf du Plessis was amazed by Kohli's hunger for runs and said it was a lesson for other batsmen.

"As a captain you are trying to think of ways, how you can change little field placements, bowlers but he was too good in this test match," Du Plessis said.

"All the questions and all the stuff that we threw at him, he had answers for. It's just relentless, for me what stuck out was the hunger for runs.

"He was determined to score big and it's great value for us as batters. When you are on top of your game, making sure you are really hungry and making sure you put in big performances.