Kohli: Goodbye to Tension, Hello to High Voltage Cricket in India vs Australia

The India-Australia Rivalry: More Respect, Less Intimacy?

The intensity on the field between India and Australia has been legendary, marked by moments of tension and confrontation. From provocations to disputes, the history of these teams has been full of memorable episodes. However, it seems that something has changed. The India tour to Australia in 2018-19 promised to be one of the most controversial, but the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town marked a turning point. The subsequent series showed a friendlier environment, with jokes instead of hostilities. Even the Indian captain, Virat Kohli, asked the fans to stop booing Steven Smith, showing a new level of respect. Before the start of the 2020-21 Test series, the question is whether this mutual respect will affect the intensity of the matches. On the eve of the first Test in Adelaide, Kohli explained that the good relationships are due to the fact that the players play together in the IPL and know each other better. In addition, the maturity of the players has influenced this evolution.

This year has also made people realize that many things might not have been necessary in the past, where you hold grudges and have unnecessary tensions between teams and individuals, which is absolutely useless.

Virat Kohli

Kohli believes the spirit of the game has changed. Although competitiveness remains high, the unnecessary has been eliminated. Respect between both teams is more evident on the field. According to Kohli, the game should remain of high quality, with tension and emotions. However, he does not foresee things becoming personal. Players are maturing and making smarter decisions to maintain the quality of cricket.

Kohli is highly respected in Australia, and is known for his competitive attitude. The Indian captain also spoke about how players understand the need to give their best for the team, while maintaining aggression in the game. Kohli emphasized that high-quality cricket should not be compromised. Although there will be difficult moments, teams must respect each other. The beauty of Test cricket lies in the competition on the field and the appreciation at the end of the five days.