Kohli: High-Voltage Cricket, No Unnecessary Tension in the IND-AUS Rivalry

Evolution of the Rivalry: India vs. Australia

The intensity on the field between India and Australia has been legendary, marked by memorable moments and strong confrontations. From provocations to disputes, the rivalry has been a central component of international cricket. In 2013, Shikhar Dhawan mocked an injured Shane Watson. In 2014-15, David Warner was used as the official instigator. These are just a few examples of the tension that characterized the encounters. There was a time when the rivalry between India and Australia seemed on the verge of coming to blows on the field. India’s tour of Australia in 2018-19 promised to be the most intense, but the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town changed things. The 2018-19 series was characterized by friendly banter, somewhat unusual compared to previous clashes. Subsequently, during the World Cup, Virat Kohli asked Indian fans to stop booing Steven Smith. Before the start of the 2020-21 Test series, doubts arose as to whether the mutual respect between both 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 teams playing together in the IPL and knowing each other better. The protagonists are older, wiser, and more secure in their place. After the Cape Town incident, Australia acknowledged that its behavior left much to be desired and strived to find the balance between competitiveness and good behavior. This year, the priorities of many have changed.

“It’s a combination of all those factors,” Kohli said. “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 tensions between teams and individuals, which is absolutely useless. You’re still going to be professional and make sure you’re positive and aggressive in your body language and the way you go about things on the field.

Virat Kohli

Kohli acknowledged that Australia has changed “to some extent.” He attributed this to playing in the IPL together, a change in Australia’s approach, and how things have developed this year. According to Kohli, the unnecessary has been filtered out, and there is more respect between both teams. Kohli emphasized that the quality of cricket should not be compromised. There will be banter and tension, but he does not foresee things becoming personal. He believes that the players are maturing and will make smarter decisions to maintain the quality of the game. Kohli is highly respected in Australia for his attitude on the field. When asked if the players feel denigrated, Kohli responded that the press has the right to perceive things as they wish. The players know what is required for the team at every moment and strive to move forward. At the highest level, the quality of cricket cannot be compromised. Respect for the sport and competitiveness must coexist. There will be difficult moments and teams that will face each other, but not disrespectfully. In the end, the effort of both teams is appreciated and nothing is taken off the field. Cricket will be competitive and high-voltage, with quality players eager to perform at their best. The intensity between India and Australia will be maintained.