From provocative gestures to battles on the field, the rivalry between India and Australia has been legendary. There was a time when confrontations were on the verge of coming to blows. However, after the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, something changed. The 2018-19 series was marked by a friendlier atmosphere, far from the hostility that used to characterize the duels between both teams. India’s captain, Virat Kohli, even asked the fans to stop booing Steven Smith, showing renewed respect. Before the start of the 2020-21 Test series, the question was whether this new cordiality would compromise the intensity of the matches. Kohli explained that the relationship between the teams has evolved, in part, thanks to the coexistence in the IPL, where the players know each other better.
Australia, for its part, has recognized the need to improve its behavior, seeking a balance between competitiveness and sportsmanship. The maturity and experience of the players also play an important role. Kohli emphasized that the focus is now on the quality of cricket, setting aside personal conflicts. Although the intensity and aggressiveness on the field are maintained, the “unnecessary material” has been filtered out. There is more respect between both sides, and he hopes that cricket will continue to be competitive. The banter will remain part of the game, but it is expected that it will not get personal. Players are smarter and make better choices, prioritizing the quality of the game.“It’s a combination of all those factors. This year has 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
