Star Indian batter Virat Kohli feels that the rivalry between India and Australia has turned into respect following their back-to-back series win on Australian soil. Team India has been the dominant team among the two teams as they have done exceedingly well against Baggy Green in recent years beating them in 2017 and 2021 in their backyard.
Virat Kohli is expected to play a key role for the Indian team in the World Test Championship final against Australia, as he has a good record against the Australia team and the right-handed batsman has smashed 8 centuries against the Aussies in Test cricket including a century in their previous game in Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game against the Aussies, Virat Kohli believes that the intense rivalry between both teams has turned into respect following their show in Australia winning back-to-back series proving their worth in Test Cricket and reckons that the respect is being earned following their performance in Australia.
“Rivalry was intense in the beginning, the environment was also very tense. But since we have won in Australia twice, the rivalry has turned into respect and we are not taken lightly anymore as a Test team.”
“We can feel that respect when we play against Australia, that ‘they have beaten us twice in our backyard back-to-back and it will be a battle of equals,” Virat Kohli said.
The star batter made runs all around the globe and established himself as one of the modern-day greats. Virat Kohli will be the x-factor for the Indian team in the World Test Championship against Australia.
My Motivation Increases Against Australia – Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli opened up about the highly competitive encounter against Baggy Green, where every player in the team wants to do well in the massive finals, and said that No.2 Test Cricket will come hard on the finals, which motivates him to top up his game to the next level and reckons that the Australia team would not have given them a second chance if they let them dominate the game at the start.
“I understand that mindset that all 11 players are on the same page and they will look to capitalize on even an inch. So, my motivation increases against this team (Australia) that is so aware and competitive, I have to elevate my game. With the motivation and drive they have, they won’t let you come back in the game. So I had to take my game to the next level,” Virat Kohli concluded.
The former Indian skipper would like to use all of his experiences against the mighty Australian bowling lineup to score big runs to put India in a good position to win that elusive ICC trophy after 10 long years in England, having won their last trophy in 2013 under the leadership of legendary MS Dhoni.