The Border Gavaskar Series is just hours away and both teams are eager to take the field amidst the controversy surrounding the Nagpur pitch. With two era-defining batsmen, Steve Smith and Virat Kohli, set to face off in the upcoming series, the Australian batting ace has dismissed any talk of a rivalry with the former Indian skipper.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Steve Smith stated that he is focused on his own batting and helping his team to victory in the series. He added that he doesn’t feel like he’s batting against anyone or trying to compare himself to any other batsmen, but instead wants to go out and do his job and help the team have success.
Smith, who is widely regarded as one of the best red-ball cricketers of this generation, boasts a formidable record against India. He also praised Kohli for his ability to up the ante against the bowlers even in challenging situations but hoped that the Indian batting superstar has a quiet series against Australia.
“The way he’s able to take the bowlers on and really put them under pressure is a huge strength of his. He’s scored runs all around the world, and his ability to score on both sides of the wicket is impressive. He’s patient when he needs to be and he’s been an amazing player in all formats of the game for a very long time. So, hopefully, this series he doesn’t score too many runs,” said Smith.
With both teams eager to get on the field, the Border Gavaskar Series is shaping up to be a highly anticipated showdown between two of the world’s best batsmen.
