Steve Smith on Virat Kohli: 'An Australian in Thoughts and Action'

Australian batter Steve Smith speaks about his camaraderie with Indian counterpart Virat Kohli ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Smith describes Kohli as 'Australian' in mindset and appreciates their friendly rivalry, with both cricketers aiming for their respective teams' success.

As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India approaches, Australian batter Steve Smith has shed light on his friendship with India's star batter Virat Kohli. Smith disclosed that they frequently exchange text messages and explained why he considers Kohli an 'Australian.'

The Border-Gavaskar series is slated to start on November 22 with the first Test in Perth. Discussing Kohli on Star Sports, Smith said, 'We get on quite well, share messages every now and again. He is a great guy and obviously a wonderful player. It will be nice to compete against him this summer.'

Smith lauded Kohli for his competitive spirit, describing it as quintessentially Australian. 'The way he tackles challenges and tries to dominate the opposition is very Australian,' Smith remarked. On a personal note, Smith mentioned, 'There is no real need to beat him or anything like that; it's about scoring as many runs as I can to help Australia achieve success.'

Both Smith and Kohli are among the 'Fab Four' of modern-day batting, along with England's Joe Root and New Zealand's Kane Williamson. In 109 Tests, Smith has amassed 9,685 runs with an average of 56.97, including 32 centuries, while Kohli has scored 8,848 runs in 113 Tests with an average of 49.15, including 29 centuries.

A memorable moment between these rivals occurred during the 2019 World Cup when Kohli intervened to stop the crowd from booing Smith over the 'Sandpaper Gate' controversy. The gesture was appreciated by Smith, who thanked Kohli for his sportsmanship. Kohli's Test record in Australia is remarkable, with 1,352 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 54.08. Smith ranks ninth in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy history with 1,887 runs in 18 matches at an average of 65.06.

The upcoming series will feature a day-night Test in Adelaide from December 6-10, followed by the third Test in Brisbane from December 14-18. The Boxing Day Test will take place from December 26-30 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, leading to the final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3-7, promising a thrilling conclusion to the series.

(With inputs from agencies.)