Virat Kohli is Australian in thoughts and action: Steven Smith

Describing Virat Kohli’s mindset on the field, Steven Smith said the veteran Indian batter is an “Australian in thoughts and action”. Kohli and the Indian team are set to travel to Australia later this year for the blockbuster five-match Test series. 

Australia have lost their last four Test series against India, including two at home (2018-19 and 2020-21). Kohli was India’s captain when they won a Test series Down Under for the first time in their history, but in 2020-21, the Indian batter returned home after the first Test for the birth of his first child. India lost that Test but Ajinkya Rahane helped India script a superb comeback and win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.

"I believe Virat Kohli is Australian in thoughts and action. The way he gets into a battle, the way he gets into the challenge and tries to get on top of the opposition. He's probably the most Australian of the Indian players, I'd say," Smith said in a video posted by Star Sports on 'X'.

"There's no real, you know, I need to beat him or anything like that. It's just about going out and playing and trying to score as many runs as I can and helping Australia have success and that's what it's all about.”

Smith has a phenomenal record against India in Test cricket. In 19 games, the right-hander has amassed 2042 runs at an average of 65.87, studded with nine tons and five fifties. Meanwhile, Kohli has the same number of runs against Australia in 25 Tests at an average of 47.49. He has five fifties and eight centuries to his name.

Talking about his relationship with Kohli, Smith said, "We get on quite well, share messages every now and then and look, he's a great guy and obviously a wonderful player. It's going to be nice to come up against him again this summer.”

The first Test will be played at Perth starting on November 22, before the action shifts to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney for the last four Tests.

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