Bowlers’ captain: Kohli brought the best out of Ishant Sharma, R Ashwin and Amit Mishra in Sri Lanka

The most telling piece of statistic that emerged on Tuesday was that India had finally won a Test series on Sri Lankan soil since 1993, says a report in Mumbai Mirror, adding that Kohli has managed such a feat after a tough loss in Galle is all the more commendable.

“For starters, Kohli comes across as a bowlers' captain. Why, else, do you think he has implemented the five-bowler theory? He knows there's only so much a modest attack can achieve. So, back them and get the batsmen to take up extra responsibility. One is not singing his hosannas but you've got to give it to him for bringing out the best in Ishant Sharma, R Ashwin and Amit Mishra all at once,” says the report.

“Secondly, Kohli's India showed a lot of character after the shocking loss at Galle. Not once did he do, or attempt to do, a U-turn on his "aggressive cricket" stance. In fact, he walked the talk with aplomb. Never mind that India were up against one of the weakest teams in Sri Lankan history. This despite the presence of Kumar Sangakkara for the first two Tests. But an 'away' series triumph is worth its weight in gold, especially when it's come after four years,” adds the report.

Meanwhile, a report in The Indian Express says that it was a series in which India, despite the deflating loss in the first Test at Galle, had dominated more sessions than the hosts. 

“It was a series where a number of young batsmen put their hand up and agreed to step into positions, which were erstwhile alien to them ? be it Ajinkya Rahane coming in at No.3 with a century at P’Sara Oval or Pujara coming in as make-shift opener for the third Test. It was a series where Ishant took over as the leader of the pace attack, guiding his young cohorts while also reaffirming that he was the pace spearhead that India have been desperately seeking,” says the report, adding that at the same time, R Ashwin, who finished with the man-of-the-series award for his 21 wickets and half-century at SSC, lifted his bowling to an elite level and in tandem with the much-improved Amit Mishra proved that India’s spin bowling was in safe hands. 

“The one issue that the Indian team management kept harping on in the build-up to the series was their unabashed pursuit of taking 20 wickets in each Test. Even though the batsmen did struggle to get going on the surprisingly bowler-friendly wickets in Sri Lanka, the theory was proven right as the bowlers finished with 60 wickets ? only the second time an Indian bowling attack had managed it in a three-Test series in their history,” says the report.