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NEW DELHI (AP) — India aims to be « ruthless » in the final test against South Africa despite having taken a winning 2-0 lead in the four-game series, » captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday.

« We want to be ruthless and will try to go 3-0 up, » Kohli said ahead of the match starting Thursday in Delhi. « We will not be experimenting just because we have won the series. We want to create a hard-working side with a winning culture. The team is in a good space and we will go all out for a win. »

India won the first test at Mohali by 104 runs, and the third at Nagpur by 124 runs. The second test at Bangalore was a rain-affected draw.

The Nagpur pitch, where South Africa folded for only 79 in the first innings, has been termed « poor » by match referee Jeff Crowe in his report to the International Cricket Council which awaits a reply from the Indian cricket board.

« I think the pitches have been discussed too much. No one talks about the Adelaide test (Australia vs New Zealand day-night game) which ended in two and a half days. People don’t talk about the number of times teams have been bowled out for less than 100 in South Africa but pitches are highlighted in India, » Kohli said.

Kohli, who will lead India for the first time on his home ground, said he was not giving a thought to whether the pitch at the Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium will also help turn as much.

« We’re confident of our abilities whether the game lasts three days or four or five. The pitch being different won’t change our mindset. We’ve come to win, » Kohli said.

South Africa captain Hashim Amla hopes to end the series on a high.

« Since we started this tour by winning the one-day internationals and Twenty20 series we would like to win this match and make it 2-1. We’ve got the England series very close, two weeks after we get back. It’s very important for us to get back to winning ways and cap it off well, » Amla said.

South Africa had won a five-game ODI series 3-2 and a three-game T20 series 2-0.

« It’s been a challenge against good bowlers on difficult tracks. It has been exciting with the games condensed into three days. But as a batsman, you are never settled, » he added.

Amla said pace bowler Dale Steyn would miss a third consecutive test owing to a groin injury he got during the opening test but that the team was not looking to experiment even though the series was already lost.

« It’s important to win and salvage some pride, » said Amla.

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