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

The India-Australia Rivalry: A New Chapter in Cricket

The history of the rivalry between India and Australia in cricket has been marked by moments of intense competition and, at times, on-field clashes. From the provocations of players like Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner to on-field confrontations, the tension between both teams has been palpable. There was a time when this rivalry seemed to be on the verge of coming to blows. However, after the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, something changed. In the 2018-19 series, the atmosphere was friendlier, with friendly banter instead of the usual hostility. In addition, the Indian captain, Virat Kohli, asked the fans to stop booing Steven Smith, showing a gesture of respect. Before the start of the 2020-21 Test series, the question is whether this new respect between the teams will compromise the intensity of the matches. On the eve of the first Test in Adelaide, Kohli explained that the best relationships are due to the players playing together in the IPL and knowing each other better. In addition, the players are older, wiser, and more secure in their place in the world. Australia has acknowledged that its behavior was not always appropriate and has tried to find the balance between competitiveness and good behavior. Also, this year, people have reviewed their priorities in life.

“I think this year has also made people realize that a lot of things might not have been necessary in the past, where you hold grudges and have unnecessary tension between teams and individuals, which is absolutely useless,” Kohli said. “You’re still going to be professional and make sure you’re positive and aggressive in your body language and the way you conduct yourself on the field.”

Virat Kohli

Kohli acknowledged that Australia has changed “to some extent.” “It could be a culmination of playing together in the IPL, a lot of IPL cricket, Australia changing their approach to some extent, and also the way things have developed this year,” he said. “I feel there is a lot more respect between the teams. You can see that on the field, and I hope cricket remains competitive.” Kohli emphasized that the quality of cricket should not be compromised, and although there will be tension and emotions, he does not believe the situation will become personal. He believes that the players are maturing and will make smarter decisions. In Australia, Kohli is well-regarded for his attitude on the field. Players feel they must give their best within the rules to win. Kohli added that the goal is to maintain the dignity of the sport, but also to compete at the highest level. There will be difficult moments and the teams will clash, but not in a disrespectful way. At the end of the five days, the effort of both teams can be appreciated, without taking anything off the field. In other words, tough but fair. How much more Australian can Kohli be?