Steve Smith Reminisces About His Early Days With Virat Kohli

Steve Smith and Virat Kohli are the pillars of batting for their respective sides no matter the format. As highly competitive cricketers, the duo has often involved themselves in heated exchanges on the field; however, it’s opposite off the ground. The pair hold each other in high esteem and the former Australian captain labelled the Indian skipper as an outstanding guy and a player.

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One of the excerpts of those were available when Virat Kohli stood up for Steve Smith during India’s match against Australia at the 2019 World Cup in London. The Indian fans were taunting Smith and David Warner as ‘cheats’, which Kohli didn’t find amusing. The Indian skipper instead asked the spectators to stop the booing and applaud the former Australian skipper.

Steve Smith recalled his early days with Kohli at the academy in Brisbane in 2007. The number one Test batsman stated that they both had nice chats off the field while having some run-ins on the ground. Yet, the Australian didn’t shy away from calling the Indian batsman a terrific guy and an equally magnificent player, having achieved plenty for India.

“I have known Virat Kohli for a long time. Since 2007, I reckon, when he went up to the academy in Brisbane. I actually wasn’t a part of in-take then, but I was kind of up there, doing bowling and stuff. He was there, we had some nice chats off the field. We had a couple of run-ins in the early days on the field.

Those things happen when you are playing for your team and your emotions sometimes go out of control. But he’s a terrific guy, he’s done terrific things with India. As an ambassador of the game. He’s getting better and better with each game, which is the scary thing.” Smith stated as quoted by Hindustan Times.

This series has the making of an all-time great series and I can’t wait for it: Steve Smith

India’s upcoming tour of Australia consisting of four Test matches is supposed to be a high-voltage one. While India won in Australia the previous time in 2018-19, bereft of David Warner and Steve Smith, the task would be far from easy as both the pair would play in the same.

Along with the duo, a rejuvenated Marnus Labuschagne will also be a part of it, who has scored a truckload of Test runs in 2019. The 31-year old hailed their Indian counterparts, having an enormous number of great players, who are capable of producing a scintillating show.

“I am so excited. It has the potential to be an-all time great series. You see guys like Jasprit Bumrah, who has come on heaps and bounds, he’s an incredible bowler. Mohammed Shami has got better and better. Ishant Sharma has the experience.

There are other couple of Indian bowlers who could probably just get over here as well. Both sides have some quality spinners as well. This series has the making of an all-time great series and I can’t wait for it.” the number one Test batsman added.

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