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

From the verbal clashes between Shikhar Dhawan and Shane Watson in 2013, to David Warner’s provocations on the 2014-15 tour, the rivalry between India and Australia has been intense. It has been characterized by moments of tension, but also by an evolution in the attitude of the players. In the past, this rivalry almost came to blows. However, a turning point came with the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town. From that moment on, a notable change was observed. During last year’s World Cup, Indian captain Virat Kohli asked fans to stop booing Steve Smith, showing a gesture of respect and sportsmanship. Before the start of the 2020-21 test series, some wondered if the newfound respect between these teams would compromise the intensity of the matches. On the eve of the first match in Adelaide, Kohli explained that the best relationships are due to teams playing together in the IPL, which allows them to get to know each other better. In addition, the players are older, wiser and more secure in their place in the world. After the Cape Town incident, Australia acknowledged its behavioral shortcomings and strived to find the right balance between competitiveness and exemplary conduct. This year, people have reassessed their priorities and realized how unnecessary certain things were.

“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 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 do things on the field.”

Virat Kohli

Kohli also acknowledged that Australia has changed “to some extent”. “It could be a culmination of playing together in the IPL, a lot of IPL cricket, Australia changing their approach to some extent, and also the way things have happened this year,” he said. “Everyone is grateful for the opportunity to get back on the field. It’s not that the matches haven’t been as intense or competitive, it’s just that unnecessary things have been filtered out. I feel there is a lot more respect between the teams. You can see it on the field, and I hope cricket continues to be competitive.” Kohli continued to emphasize the importance of cricket quality and the need to filter out the unnecessary. He acknowledged that the “banter” will continue, but that he does not foresee things becoming personal. He highlighted that both the players and the sport are maturing, leading to better decisions and maintaining the quality of the game. Kohli’s vision is that competitiveness on the field is essential, but without resorting to disrespect. He believes in appreciating performance and character at the end of matches. He emphasizes that, although the fans will try to make things difficult, the players will also do so, which is the essence of Test cricket. In summary, Kohli expects intense but fair cricket.