Kohli: “High Voltage Cricket” India vs Australia, No Extra Tension

From Shikhar Dhawan’s gestures towards an injured Shane Watson in 2013 to the controversial figure of David Warner, used as an official provocateur on the 2014-15 tour, the rivalry between India and Australia has had heated moments.In the past, this competition was on the verge of coming to blows, but after the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, something changed.The 2018-19 series seemed destined to be the tensest, but the situation evolved. In the last World Cup, the Indian captain, Virat Kohli, asked the fans to stop booing Steve Smith, who was returning after a sanction.Before the start of the 2020-21 Test series, the question arises as to whether mutual respect will compromise the intensity of the matches.

A change in the dynamic

On the eve of the first Test in Adelaide, Kohli explained that the better relationship is due to the players sharing experiences in the IPL, which allows them to get to know each other better. In addition, the maturity and experience of the current players influence this dynamic.

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

After the Cape Town incident, Australia has recognized the need to improve its behavior, seeking a balance between competitiveness and exemplary conduct. This year, personal priorities have changed, realizing the unnecessary nature of certain attitudes.Kohli emphasized that professionalism and aggression in the game will be maintained, but without getting personal. “Quality play is what should stand out,” he stated.

Kohli acknowledged that Australia has changed “to some extent”, thanks to the IPL, the Australian approach and the circumstances of the year. He highlighted that the unnecessary is filtered out, fostering respect between the teams.Although the exchange of words will continue, Kohli does not foresee the situation becoming personal, as the players are more intelligent and experienced.In short, a tough but fair game is expected, where recognition of the players’ effort and character is valued at the end of each match.