New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS) India captain Virat Kohli on Monday dedicated the Test series win over South Africa to the victims of the devastating floods in Chennai.
India bundled out South Africa for 143 runs in the second innings to win the fourth and final Test by 337 runs and clinch the series 3-0.
They had won the first Test in Mohali by 108 runs and the third in Nagpur by 124 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the series going into the clash at the Ferozeshah Kotla.
The second Test in Bengaluru was washed out due to heavy rain after the opening day.
“I dedicate our series win to the victims of the Chennai floods. It has been a very unfortunate few weeks. The kind of situation that has arisen in the city is really bad. My thoughts are with all the people who have lost their family members,” Kohli told the media after the end of the fifth day’s play.
The floods affected the morale of a few players in the Indian squad as well. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who belongs to Tamil Nadu had publicly expressed his concern at the situation earlier during the series.
“A few of our players also had their family members stuck in the floods in one place for a very long time. So to come out and play with character in that situation is commendable. So we would like to dedicate the series to them and hope that this brings some joy to their homes,” Kohli added.
Rahane, centurion in both India’s innings, dedicated his Man of the Match award to the flood victims and the Indian Army, for its relentless work in providing aid for the people in distress.
“I would like to dedicate this to the people in Chennai who are suffering from the floods and the Indian Army who is helping out…this one is for them,” Rahane declared.
Man of the Series Ashwin, with 31 wickets in four Tests, a Chennai local, said he would voluntarily help the suffering people.
“Happiness got the better of me, I would like to dedicate my man of the series to the people suffering from the Chennai floods,” Ashwin wrote on social networking site Twitter.
“I would also like to add that I am not going to do anything by joining hands with anyone,I would go down personally and do what I like.”
