Virat Kohli's Absence 'Big Loss' For India: Steve Smith

The cricketing fraternity would not be fortunate enough to witness Steve Smith and Virat Kohli battle it out in the rest of the Test series as the latter will skip the same. The Indian captain will miss the last three Tests in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, returning home for the impending birth of his first child. Steve Smith termed the same as a massive loss for the tourists.

Indian captain Virat Kohli was in top-notch form in the first innings of the first Test in Adelaide as he struck a silky-smooth 74 off 180 balls. It was an unfortunate run-out that deprived him of a century and managed four runs in the second innings as the tourists recorded their lowest Test total and lose the match eventually. Kohli declared that he wished to leave the Indian team with a victory in Adelaide.

Steve Smith revealed that he wished Virat Kohli safe travels at the end of the first Test and credited him for standing up to be with his wife for their baby. Smith understands the pressure and courage that must have taken to do it. The 31-year old was awestruck by the way Kohli played in the first innings against top-class bowling.

“I just fist-bumped (him) in the end (of the first Test) and said safe travel and hope everything goes well with the baby. It is a big loss for him and India, not having him for the rest of the series. You have to look at the way he played in first innings, was a pretty class display on good bowling. Wicket was doing a bit and I had said it before and will say it again, credit to him to stand up and say I wanna go home for the birth of his first child. I am sure there would have been pressure on him to stay but credit to him,” Smith said in a virtual press conference.

I like batting at the MCG: Steve Smith

Steve Smith felt hugely excited about playing on Boxing Day in front of the MCG crowd and revealed that he grew as a player in the last decade. The right-handed batsman likes to prosper in the big games and highlighted that it is nerve-wracking at Boxing Day.

“Yeah, 10 years (since his debut) is quite hard to believe. Since then, I have grown as a player over that time. My boxing day record is probably the best in Australia among all grounds. I like batting at MCG. On a big occasion I like to try and make most of them. You get shivers down the spine when walk out to bat at boxing day (with) the crowd yelling,” he added.

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