Success in the series has lifted India above South Africa in the International Cricket Council's ODI rankings and they retained their number one status in tests as well despite losing 2-1 to the South Africans last month.
India's first ever ODI international series victory in South Africa has laid a strong platform for the country's hopes of a successful 2019 World Cup campaign, captain Virat Kohli said.
"We are a team that always wants to think of ways we can improve and after this tour we will look be to even stronger with the 2019 World Cup in mind," he said after India took a 4-1 lead in the six-match series on Tuesday. "It's a wonderful feeling to have created some history. The guys really got stuck in, with the bat and the ball and in the field as well," he added after the Port Elizabeth triumph.
Success in the series has lifted India above South Africa in the International Cricket Council's ODI rankings and they retained their number one status in tests as well despite losing 2-1 to the South Africans last month. "For now, 4-1 feels amazing. Obviously the players put up some really good cricket to be in this position," Kohli added.
"Only one team had the pressure of losing this series and we knew that. It's history and the guys have worked hard for it. Every since the third Test in Johannesburg it's been a good time for us. It's been a collective effort to create history," an ecstatic Kohli said after the match on Tuesday.
"When three guys at the top are being consistent, the guys who get an opportunity every now and then might not click. After this series is wrapped up we'll sit down and think about where to improve. For now, 4-1 feels great. We want to win 5-1 for sure, but yeah, there might a scenario for a few more guys to get a chance next match. But the ultimate priority is to win and we'll do anything we can to win," the skipper added.
The last match of the ODI series is in Pretoria on Friday. "We want to win 5-1 but there might be a scenario to give a few (other) guys a chance." Kohli said with the series won using only 12 of India's 17-man squad.
The 2019 World Cup is being hosted by England and Wales, where India won their first global title in 1983 before adding a second on home soil in 2011.
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