Kohli: High-Voltage Cricket, No Unnecessary Tension in India vs Australia Duels

From moments of tension on the field to the evolution of mutual respect, the rivalry between India and Australia has undergone significant changes.

Shikhar Dhawan mocking an injured Shane Watson in 2013, or David Warner acting as the official provocateur on the 2014-15 tour, are examples of a rivalry that sometimes bordered on the limit.

There was a time when the tension between India and Australia seemed on the verge of coming to blows. India’s tour of Australia in 2018-19 promised to be the most conflictive, but the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town changed the course. The subsequent series was characterized by friendly banter, something very different from what we were used to seeing in the matches between the two teams. India captain Virat Kohli asked Indian fans to stop booing Steven Smith, who was returning to the field after serving his suspension. Before the start of the 2020-21 test series, some wondered if this new respect between the teams would 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 sharing a dressing room in the IPL and knowing each other better. In addition, they are all more mature and aware of their place. Since the Cape Town incident, Australia has acknowledged errors in its behavior and has sought a balance between competitiveness and exemplary conduct. This year, the priorities of many have changed.

It’s a combination of all those factors. 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 added that the quality of cricket should be the most important thing and that unnecessary behavior will be filtered out. He acknowledged that Australia has changed “to some extent”. Kohli believes there is now more respect between teams, although the intensity and competitiveness will remain. Banter is inevitable, but personal things no longer have a place. Kohli is highly regarded in Australia, and it has been said that he is the most Australian non-Australian. Players understand that they must give their best for the team, but without being disrespectful. High-quality cricket is expected to be maintained, but without falling into disrespect. The key, according to Kohli, is to maintain the dignity of the sport and compete at the highest level.

Kohli emphasized the importance of appreciating the effort of both teams at the end of the five days, without taking anything off the field. The goal is for cricket to be competitive and high voltage. In summary, a tough but fair game is expected. The rivalry between India and Australia remains intense, but with a more respectful approach.