"People might not like him, but they'll watch"- Ravi Shastri and Australian players define Virat Kohli

The modern India-Australia Test cricket rivalry has now become one of the most fiercely contested battles in the game, and Virat Kohli has always been in the face of the Kangaroos.

From intense competition and dramatic moments to heated exchanges and memorable performances from two powerhouses, these iconic clashes captivate fans across the globe. Whether it is a Test match or a white-ball clash, India and Australia both consistently push each other to the limit and deliver a complete package of entertainment for the fans.

Virat Kohli shares a fierce rivalry with Australia

Well, the Indian batting superstar Kohli shares a fierce rivalry with the Australian cricket team. The dashing right-hander is known for his aggressive style and competitive spirit, and he never misses a chance to add drama to India-Australia matches with his performances, both with the bat and with his eyes and tongue.

Most of the time, Kohli was involved in sledging with the Australians. Meanwhile, Australian players like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland opened up about their thoughts on Kohli and what was going on in their heads when the Indian star was batting in the WTC 2023 final at The Oval on “The Test Season 3".

Notably, " The Test" is a popular cricket documentary series on Amazon Prime Video that offers an inside look into the Australian cricket team. Well, Team India was chasing a massive 444-run target to win the WTC 2023 final. At the end of Day 4, they were 164/3, needing 280 more to secure their first ICC trophy in a decade.

Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane were close to their fifties. Despite India's strong performance on Days 3 and 4, Australia dominated the final day, as Boland dismissed Kohli for 49 and Mitchell Starc got Rahane out, dashing India's hopes of winning the ICC title. Australian bowlers Boland and Lyon bowled India out for 234, winning the game by 209 runs and securing their maiden WTC title at the Oval.

Virat Kohli steals the show in The Test Season 3

Recalling the historic clash, the Australian players admitted to having a fear of losing the game due to the "chase-master" Kohli’s presence on “The Test Season 3” on Prime Video, as the Indian star is one of the greatest chasers of the game.

Paying tribute to former Indian skipper Pat Cummins, Australian captain Pat Cummins said, “Virat Kohli is the one guy who can chase it down in the fourth inning." Whereas Steve Smith stated, “If you look at people chasing the total, Virat Kohli is up there with the best, if not the best.”

Former Australian head coach Justin Langer also described Kohli in one line by saying, “He's been a killer against Australia.” On the other hand, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon said of the Indian batter, “He is super competitive and doesn't give you an inch. No one comes close to him.”

Meanwhile, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri hailed Kohli by saying: “When he comes out to bat, Virat makes people around the globe stand up and look. They might not like it, but they'll watch.” While praising Kohli, Aussie pacer Boland noted, “Going into that last day, we still thought that if they got on a roll, Kohli could still pull off that chase.”

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Virat Kohli bit from "The Test - Season 3"

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In the end, the well-known commentator Harsha Bhogle said that Kohli is such a great Test match player that you never think you won a game until he is out, especially in Australia. Notably, India and Australia will nex face each other in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, starting on June 1 in the USA and Caribbean.