Last Update on: March 21st, 2023 at 05:39 pm

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Former Indian captain Virat Kohli has said that Australian players are no longer nasty on the field since the players started sharing the dressing room during the Indian Premier League (IPL). Virat Kohli said the IPL has changed the attitude of players on the field and that there are no more verbal wars between the cricketers, and respect and mutual admiration are growing between them.

Star India batter Virat Kohli’s statement came during a Youtube live session for ‘The 360 Show” with his former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate and great friend AB de Villiers. Virat and De Villiers have a great relationship both on and off the field. Earlier, the Delhi-born cricketer credited the former South African skipper for helping him during his lean patch.

The IPL Has Changed Quite A Few Things – Virat Kohli

In an interview with AB de Villiers on the latter’s YouTube channel, Virat Kohli claimed that the IPL has changed the mindset of players on the field and paved the way for “respect” and mutual appreciation. The 34-year-old said that while the verbal abuse and sledging have changed, the level of competition has not.

“The IPL has changed quite a few things. The cricket is still competitive but the verbals and the sledging is not nasty anymore. It has become a game of mutual respect and admiration. Still, you can say that they have the same hunger,” Kohli said in a chat with AB de Villiers.

“The stuff which was too intense and things that created tension between the teams has significantly gone down, that’s what I have experienced this year but not the competitiveness,” the former captain further added.

IPL 2023 | India National Cricket Team | IND vs AUS 2023 | India vs Australia 2023

It Is Nice To Have Camaraderie Within The Players – Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli mentioned the intense animosity between Australia and India when he led the team in the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, stating that he did not want to be friends with any of the Australian players. However, the former captain noted that the lack of animosity and strong friendship between the two sides were both positive developments.

“No, it has changed. I thought that was the case, but it has changed for sure. As I said, in the heat of the battle you want to be competitive but I’ve been proven wrong. The thing I said before the first Test, has certainly changed and you won’t hear me say that ever again,” he had further added.

“I think it is a nice thing forward, it is progressive and if the tensions rise in tournaments like World Cups, you see that anyway. So, I think it is nice to have camaraderie within the players. It is fun to be competitive and not with nastiness,” he concluded.

Also read: “It Gave Me A Sense Of Calmness, Relaxation, And Excitement Again”- Virat Kohli On His 28th Test Hundred

IND vs AUS: “The Cricket Is Still Competitive But The Verbals And The Sledging Is Not Nasty Anymore” – Virat Kohli

The IPL Has Changed Quite A Few Things – Virat Kohli

It Is Nice To Have Camaraderie Within The Players – Virat Kohli

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