The rivalry between India and Australia, once marked by tense moments and provocations, has undergone a notable transformation in recent years. From Shikhar Dhawan’s taunts at an injured Shane Watson in 2013, to on-field confrontations, the intensity between both teams has been legendary. There was a time when this rivalry was about to come to blows. However, after the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, something changed. The 2018-19 series was characterized by friendly banter, moving away from the hostility that used to accompany the encounters between India and Australia. The Indian captain, Virat Kohli, even asked the fans to stop booing Steven Smith, showing a new respect. Before the start of the 2020-21 test series, the question arises as to whether this new camaraderie could affect the intensity of the game. Kohli attributes this change to several factors, including the growing familiarity between players due to the IPL and the maturity of those involved.
“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. 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
