From provocative gestures to on-field confrontations, the rivalry between India and Australia has been legendary. There was a time when the tension between the two teams almost came to blows. The 2018-19 series promised to be the most tense, but the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town marked a turning point. That event changed the dynamic. The subsequent series was characterized by jokes, leaving behind the hostility that used to define the encounters between India and Australia. India captain Virat Kohli asked fans to stop booing Steven Smith, showing a change of attitude. Before the start of the 2020-21 test series, the question was whether this new respect would compromise the intensity of the matches. On the eve of the first match in Adelaide, Kohli revealed that the relationship improved because both teams play together in the IPL, allowing them to get to know each other better. Furthermore, the maturity of the players has influenced it. Australia has recognized the need to improve its behavior, seeking a balance between competitiveness and exemplary conduct. Kohli pointed out that this year has led people to re-evaluate their priorities.
Kohli emphasized that the quality of cricket should be the most important thing, although competition and aggression will still be present.This year has also made people realize that many things might not have been necessary in the past, where grudges were held and there were unnecessary tensions between teams and individuals, which is absolutely useless.
Virat Kohli
