The tough tour of South Africa may loom large but Virat Kohli was around to quash suggestions that the series against Sri Lanka was a whistle-stop on the way to that December date. "Every match is important, every series huge. It's not like if we lose this series, you guys are going to say nothing to us," the Indian skipper shot back during the media conference before the first of three Tests which, the weather willing, begins at Eden Gardens today. "We want to play good cricket and maintain our consistency as a team. Winning is the most important thing, and everyone is on the same page on that," he added, saying it doesn't matter which team or where they are playing.

The Eden Gardens is covered as dark clouds hover in the sky on the eve of the first India v Sri Lanka Test in Kolkata yesterday. Pic/PTI