New Delhi: The batting rivalry between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith could decide the outcome of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, feels former opener Matthew Hayden.
India are set to travel to Australia for a five-match series that begins on November 22 in Perth. India have won the last four series – home and away – between the two teams.
Kohli and Smith, along with England’s Joe Root and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson have been the top four Test batters of the current generation.
In 25 Tests, Kohli has scored 2042 runs against Australia at an average of 47.48, hitting eight centuries while Smith too has accumulated similar numbers in 19 matches at average of 65.87 with nine tons.
“Cricket is a game of momentum and I’m sure those two players, coming now to the later pages of their cricketing careers, will be very keen to dominate the landscape through the summer,” Hayden said, while attending the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Wednesday.
“That’s their nature. They do it in very different ways, very different styles, but certainly they really are the key to the Australian summer.”
Kohli vs Smith – battle of the titans
Hayden said with both te teams equally balanced, it is hard for him to pick a clear winner, while pointing out that whoever scores more runs would win. It is where the battle between Kohli and Smith could prove decisive, with both keen to make the most in the later stages of their careers.
“You look at the lineups, and it’s hard to really tell who has the edge. I sense that it’s going to be runs that are going to be the point of difference. Guys that are sure bets have retired, like Pujara was a sure bet in Australian conditions,” the former left hand batter said.
“Was he exciting? No. Was he effective? Heck, yes. When you look back over the years, guys like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman… they were really sure bets in our market. The best need to stand up in this series, runs are going to be at a premium,” he said.
India are set to travel to Australia for a five-match series that begins on November 22 in Perth. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
