In 2017, the Australian team was thrashed by India as they brought the Border-Gavaskar Trophy home and all the four Tests were filled with animosity as the hosts had won 2-1. However, after the series the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli had said that his relationship with some Australia players had ‘changed’, contrary to his claims of a ‘friendly rivalry’ prior to the start of the series.
Even now, before India’s departing for Australia, Kohli had clarified that he will not be the one to start a duel but won’t hold back if the opposition fires the first shot. But as the platform continues to build for what many expect to be a ‘chirpy’ series, the fiery pacer Mitchell Starc feels things have changed since last year and that there no longer exists any enmity from Kohli towards Australia and vice-versa.
Kohli vs Starc is one rivalry the cricketing world will have its eyes on, Starc reckons that he isn’t one of the players whose equation with the India captain was damaged.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli Shares A Laugh With Adam Gilchrist at Gabba
Starc said, “I don’t get that feeling at all. We had some good battles on the field through that series, all in good fun and had a few laughs about it and caught up after one of the Test matches. If that’s the case, so be it. But I’m sure I’ll have a few chats with him over this series and share a laugh and chat about the series once it’s done.”
Mitchell Starc and Kohli have shared the dressing room during the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and hence the pacer expressed that Virat is very light off the field in comparison to how he conducts himself on it.
The Australian pace spearhead explained, “I got to know him a fair bit off the field and I think probably know him a bit better than some of my Australian teammates. I’ve got to see a bit off the field, where he’s very different. (He’s) such a nice guy off the field, he’s got a lot of time for everyone and just loves to be part of the boys, whether its playing FIFA or being around the team room. I guess in a similar way to perhaps myself and some of the others, there’s a bit of white-line fever there when you get on the cricket field and you just want to perform your best for your country.”
The Starc-Kohli rivalry will have to wait, as the fast bowler is not part of Australia’s T20 squad for the three-match series starting Wednesday. But rest assured, the contest will be a sight to behold once the two nations lock horns with each other in the first Test starting in Adelaide on December 6.
