The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia promises an enthralling battle between two of the modern era’s greatest batters: Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. Both players are renowned for their exceptional skills and dominance in the Test format.
Glenn Maxwell, the Australian all-rounder, believes that the head-to-head contest between Kohli and Smith will be a pivotal factor in determining the outcome of the series. “One of those two is going to make a lot of runs, if not both of them,” Maxwell said. “It is going to be pretty exciting to watch the two of the finest players of our generation go head-to-head.”
Smith, with 9,685 runs in 109 Tests, boasts an impressive average of 56.97. He has scored 32 centuries and 41 fifties, with a highest score of 239. Kohli, on the other hand, has amassed 8,848 runs in 113 Tests, averaging 49.15. He has 29 centuries and 30 fifties, with a highest score of 254.
Kohli’s Test record in Australia is particularly impressive. In 13 Tests, he has scored 1,352 runs at an average of 54.08, including six centuries and four fifties. Smith, too, has a strong record in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having scored 1,887 runs in 18 matches at an average of 65.06.
Beyond their individual brilliance, Kohli and Smith share a mutual respect and camaraderie. During the 2019 World Cup, Kohli intervened to stop the crowd from booing Smith over the “Sandpaper Gate” saga. Smith later expressed his gratitude for Kohli’s gesture.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will feature five Tests, with the first match scheduled for November 22 in Perth. The second Test will be a day-night affair at Adelaide Oval, followed by matches at The Gabba, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world’s best teams, with the individual battle between Kohli and Smith adding an extra layer of excitement.
