Virat Kohli Admits Banter Will Be There against Australia, But Won't Be Personal
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|| India Correspondent ||
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The much-awaited four-match Test series between India and Australia are all set to begin from December 17. While the rivalry is well known, the matches also witnesses controversy and sledging too. The ongoing series has been a showcase of 'rivalry' but there have seen many moments where they have showcased sportsmanship, and friendship as well.
However, Virat Kohli said that it's because players get to know each other in the Indian Premier League.
Kohli said in the pre-match press conference, "You still have to be professional, positive and aggressive in the body language. But I don't think things are going to be as personal as they used to be before. Because we understand we're contributing to a larger cause and it's the quality of cricket that has to stand out. Obviously, you're trying to get people out and score runs, but at the end of the day, the unnecessary stuff is going to get filtered out by itself.”
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"I feel there's much more respect between the sides, you can see that on the field. I hope the cricket continues to be competitive. Banter is going to go on here and there all the time, that's the highest level of cricket we'll be playing so it will be competitive. There's going to be tension, stress and emotion flaring every now and then. I don't foresee anything getting personal anymore. Also, all of us getting smarter... a few more years into our careers and we have to make smarter choices," he further added.
However, Virat Kohli admitted that the banter between them would never get personal but he stated that the aggression would be the same like before. Notably, Kohli will play only the first Test and after that, he will return to India for the birth of his first child with wife, Anushka Sharma in January 2021.
"At the highest level, the quality of cricket cannot be compromised. If you're stepping onto the field thinking yes, we'll have smiles and handshakes throughout the day and we're not going to be as aggressive or competitive in our body language, I think that's a wrong idea to have. You have to maintain the dignity of the sport but also understand you're competing with two quality sides,” he concluded.
