Intriguing battle within battle

Kohli and Smith will have a point to prove when the series begins

Even before a ball could be bowled in the latest instalment of the India-Australia rivalry, debates have already started on who is better — Virat Kohli or Steve Smith?

Is Smith a better Test batsman? Is Kohli one of best ODI players ever? Is Smith more composed as captain or is Kohli a better motivator…? Many such questions will continue to be asked as these two prolific cricketers go on to lead their countries for the considerable future at least.

While Smith pips Kohli in Tests, having scored more runs, centuries and half-centuries despite having played four games lesser, there is no doubt who’s the boss in one-dayers.

Kohli, who recently hammered his 30th ODI ton to join the great Ricky Ponting as joint-second in centuries list, is miles ahead of his competitors and is even tipped by some as the man best placed to surpass the feats of Sachin Tendulkar.

Pushing boundaries

From making a habit of chasing down targets with his metronomic batting to dominating the best of the attacks in the world without taking much risk, Kohli has been constantly pushing the horizons in limited-overs cricket. Although he may have had issues in whites in England, he’s transformed himself into a tornado in coloured clothing.

Barring South Africa, he’s scored an ODI century in every Test-playing nation he has played in with four of them coming in Australia. Kohli also loves playing against Australia, amassing 1002 runs in 23 games with five hundreds at an average of 55.66. The Delhiite, like many of his illustrious predecessors, considers Australia as one the most important challenges, and he will have some score to settle when the series (five ODIs and three T20Is) kicks off at the M A Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

The 28-year-old endured a miserable run in the bitterly-contested Test series at the start of the year. Although he came into the series on the back of some great form, he only managed a meagre 46 runs in the opening three games (top score of 15) before missing out of the final game at Dharamsala.

The Australian media chose to portray him as the villain with one publication even comparing him to the American president Donald Trump. Finally, at the end of a gruelling war where tempers flew thick and fast, Kohli eventually went on to say that he’s no longer friends with some Australian cricketers.

While drama looks set to envelope this series as well, the irrepressible Kohli will be determined to lead his team from the front, like he mostly does.

Special liking

Smith, on the other hand, will be eager to plunder runs against India, against whom he’s taken a special liking to. Such is Smith’s presence that India have begun to hate the sight of him.

He averages an astonishing 84.05 in the 10 Tests he’s played and was brutal in the series earlier this year as well, scoring 499 runs, including three centuries. Smith is excellent in the one-dayers too, averaging 66.71 in the nine games with a scintillating ton in the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup being the highlight. His early shuffle at crease has constantly upset the lines of the pacers while spinners find his brilliant footwork hard to cope with. When he’s at the crease, the Indians just hope he gets out on his own.

Plenty of battles will be fought in this series but the one between the two young skippers forms the centre-piece. They bring out the best in each other and they would be looking to set the stage on fire again. An exciting battle awaits.