'Virat Kohli created an amazing identity for the Indian cricket team' - Joe Burns shares experience with India legend [Exclusive Interview]

Joe Burns — once destined to represent Australia in all formats, had his life taking an unexpected turn, when the cricketer had to shift his base to Italy. The reason? A tribute to his departed sibling Dominic, who played for Italy and had an unfortunate death, which came as tragic to Joe's ears. But the move worked wonders for the Italian side, as they went on to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026.

Joe, who once captained Australia A on their tour to India, will be visiting the country once again on national duty, but for a different national squad to play the marquee T20 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by India along with Sri Lanka. This will Italy's historic first go at any major ICC tournament, and with the 35-year-old at the helm, they would certainly want to make it a memorable one.

Ahead of the tournament, CricTracker invited the Queenslander for an exclusive interaction, shedding light on his cricketing journey, future goals, struggles, joys, sorrows, ups, downs, and much, much more. Here's how it went:

Excerpts

You chose to represent Italy as a tribute to your late brother Dominic. Was that decision driven more by grief or the desire to carry forward his legacy?

I think it was a bit of both. I think you go through tragedy and grief, and you deal with it in different ways. After it happened, I was probably a little bit lost for a few months, and I was just sitting at home, obviously very upset. The opportunity to play for Italy came along a few months later, and I think that the fact that that team was there for me and really supported me through a really tough time, created a really deep connection with that group of guys and that team and the country. I think, not just because of that, but going through those tough periods with them makes me really motivated to, I guess, serve that team and that group of guys as best I can.

Italy’s T20 World Cup qualification was one of the most emotional milestones in your career. What kept you motivated through the toughest moments?

I think as a group we're really motivated by the chance to leave a legacy for the next generation of Italian cricket. Obviously, it was the first time qualifying for us, and a lot of guys have sacrificed a lot over a number of years to qualify for the World Cup.

The qualification process isn't something that happens overnight. It's probably a two-year process to go from sub-regional cricket to the World Cup. A lot of time, effort, sacrifice, and dedication go into it. There's a lot of emotion when you finally get over that final hurdle and into the World Cup. We talked as a group about what it would mean to the Federation going forward, and that was our biggest motivating factor. 

What’s your take on Virat Kohli’s early retirement from Test cricket?

Yeah, I was, I guess, a little bit surprised, but you know, when you have to think about it, it probably makes sense. He is a guy who puts a lot of passion into his cricket. He's played at the top for a really long time, and you understand that that does take it out. You know, I think for someone of such high standards as Virat, it would have been tough to keep playing if you didn't feel that you could commit that same passion and energy and effort into the game.

But he had an amazing Test career. He was a fierce competitor and really created an amazing identity for the Indian cricket team. 

Your coach revealed you’d love to open your World Cup journey against India; why does that matchup mean so much to you?

I think going to our first World Cup, we want to be on the big stage, and there's no bigger stage than playing the defending champions in their own backyard on one of the biggest sporting events in the world. 

Look, we're excited for the challenge. Whoever we play against, it's going to be a challenging tournament. Obviously, in the World Cup, there are 20 very good teams. But for me, personally, I would love the chance to play India in that first game, but we have to wait and see what happens with the draw.

With over 3,500 registered players and growing infrastructure, how far can Italian cricket go in the next 5–10 years?

There's a massive opportunity over the next 5 to 10 years for Italian cricket. Obviously, this is the first step in getting onto the world stage, but the opportunity to open up funding and commercial opportunities. I guess that's what lends itself to improving our high-performance program, our administration, our governance, our grassroots, our pathways. 

Everything comes from this moment now. And it's really exciting. Like you said, there's a lot of cricket in Italy. There's a massive Asian community that plays cricket in Italy, so there's a lot of passion for the game. But cricket goes back a long time in the country as well. So there is a historical piece to it as well. And look, that's the challenge now for the next 5, 10 years to continue to develop and make sure that we're back at future World Cups and competing in world events.

With the 2026 T20 World Cup set in India and Sri Lanka, what are you most looking forward to in playing there?

I'm very much looking forward to getting back into the subcontinent. I thoroughly love the people, love the culture. Obviously, playing the game of cricket, it's fantastic over there. And I guess the crowds and the following you get, it's going to be a great experience, not just for myself, but for our team and for our country to experience that. Had some ups and downs in Asia over the years, but looking forward to a good experience this time around.

How seriously are you preparing for the possibility of facing a powerhouse like India?

We prepare really well. Our focus is on trying to be the best prepared team in world cricket, something that we can control. It doesn't take any talent to be the best-prepared side. And obviously, at the World Cup, you're going to come up against some powerhouse teams. So every game we go into, we prepare really well. 

We look at how we can win games and match up our strengths and weaknesses to your position and assess the conditions that we're playing in and come up with plans from there. So it'll be no different based on who we're playing, to be honest. But yeah, excited for the challenge against the really top teams where we'll really be tested.

You’ve faced Virat Kohli-led India; what makes him such a tough opponent as captain?

Virat Kohli doesn't take a backward step. As I said before, he really shaped that team's identity. I think even now that he's not in the team, you can see that the way that India play, it's really shaped on, I guess, the foundations that Virat put in place over a number of years. He's always a really fierce competitor. I tried not to look at him on the field. 

I didn't want to engage with him because I knew that that really spurred him on. And I guess you factor in the fact that he's a world-class batter, one of the greatest of all time. It's a great combination. And like I said, it really set the identity for the Indian cricket team.

You spent your prime years opening for Australia—what lessons from playing with Warner and Smith have you carried into your captaincy at Italy?

I guess I try and take pieces of all my experiences throughout the years into my captaincy and try and, I guess, put my own spin on it as well. But I'm constantly leaning on the experience of playing alongside the likes of Dave Warner and Steve Smith and the way that they went about the game, the way they viewed the game, talked about the game, especially for a country like Italy, where guys have a great thirst for knowledge about how to improve and, I guess, to go from semi-professional into a fully professional world. 

And I was fortunate enough to play alongside some of the best professionals ever. So it's bits and pieces along the way. Captaincy, you have to be adaptable to your group as well and know, I guess, how to communicate with different players and what resonates with them. But really fortunate, like I said, to play alongside those players and to have seen how they've gone about the game over a number of years.

Which former Australian teammate surprised you most when they heard you were switching allegiance?

I would say that the Aussie boys have been really supportive. I'd say that World Cricket's really got behind us as a team, and I guess myself as an individual, and just lending support through what has been a pretty tough time at certain periods. But look, the guys are all for it. Everyone wants to get to Italy. Everyone wants to drink coffee and eat pasta. So I feel like we're the world's second team at the World Cup, and we're really riding that emotion from everyone around the globe.

Virat is known for his aggression — did he ever have a verbal exchange with you?

Yeah, actually, in my first game, first Test match at the MCG on Boxing Day, I think it was 24. And first game, I was fielding at Bat Pad. And I'm pretty sure Virat made 100 that day. But there was a little bit of chirp going on. Not sledging, just obviously we got Hadzi behind the stumps, and Watto was at first slip. Nathan Lyon was bowling, so I'm in close. I think it'd been four hours. I hadn't said a word. I think I said one line. 

I think I said to him, Virat, you got to play some shots. He stopped the bowler, stopped Nathan Lyon, turned to me and said, ‘You don't talk, rookie’. Next ball faced up, smacked it through covers. It was very embarrassing for me. I didn't say a word the next four days after that, but it showed me that Virat was not someone to mess with. And I think as a 24-year-old débutant at Bat Pad, it wasn't really the person or in the place to be saying anything to Virat at that point.

Would you rather play India in the first match or Australia in the final? What makes that dream scenario special?

I'd love to do both if that's an option. Like I said, we would love to play Australia in a World Cup. We would happily play anyone in the World Cup final. I'd love to play India in the first game of the World Cup. We just want the full experience. We want to tackle the World Cup as best we can. It's an opportunity for us to lay down a flag in world cricket. 

And in those moments against the top teams is when we've got the opportunity to do that and really showcase what we can do, what we're about and who we are. I guess they're the moments that are going to leave us in good stead for the future.

Any funny or memorable training session with your Aussie teammates that still cracks you up?

There's plenty. Look, obviously, when you're playing for Australia, you're traveling the world with a group of friends and playing the game you love. So there are great stories, great memories. To be honest, the best memories and the best times, well, for me anyway, were being around the guys off the field and the travel days and around the hotel, even the training days. The games, everyone really locks in pretty much into autopilot for how you play. But look, great friendships across the board.

If you could invite two of your former Aussie teammates to mentor the Italian side, who would you pick and why?

Number one, probably Nathan Lyon. Our head coach is actually his spin coach, John Davison. So I think they would work very well together. And I think Gaz would love being in Italy and the opportunity to be around the boys. Maybe Davy would get the ball onto her just for laughs more than anything. But obviously, his experience in T20 cricket around the world would be very valuable for us.

Rapid Fire

Best innings of your career?

178 against New Zealand in Christchurch when we went to number one in the world.

Warner or Smith – who gave you tougher batting advice?

I think Davie, obviously being an opener, we worked really closely together. He was always on to me about preparing really well. So I'd definitely say Warner.

Italian pizza or Aussie BBQ?

Italian pizza.

One Aussie teammate you’d call if you need a laugh?

I'd say Marnus. Not that he would make me laugh, but he's the easiest person to make laugh. So it'd be quite a funny conversation. Anything you say to Marnus, he laughs at. So he's an easy person to call when you want to So I can hear some laughter.

Who’s the most stylish cricketer you’ve shared a dressing room with?

It has to be one of the West Indian boys. I was recently at ILT20 with Dubai Capitals. And we had Rovman Powell. And we had a team night. And I still remember the clothes he brought to the dinner. Very stylish and very big watch as well.

India vs Australia at the Gabba or Italy vs a top side in T20WC – which excites you more?

I wouldn't enjoy facing Jasprit Bumrah at the Gabba. I think it's a little bit doing quite a bit. So, yeah, a World Cup game. Hopefully, the wicket's a little bit more battle friendly, so it might be a little bit more favorable to enjoy that one.

One Indian bowler you would’ve loved to open against?

I used to enjoy watching Zaheer Khan growing up. Obviously, left arm that swung the ball really nicely, so he'd be a good challenge. And, yeah, I'd love to face him.

Who’s stricter in the dressing room – Aussie coaches or Italian coaches?

I'd say it's fairly similar. Our head coach, John Davison, he's, I guess, come through the Australian coaching system, so he's got a lot of those philosophies. Big thing in both systems is working really hard in preparation, making sure that you're as prepared as you can, and then When you get to the games, it's actually a very relaxed environment, trying to take the pressure off the guys, knowing that the work's been done.

Teammate tales

Funniest teammate in Queensland days?

In Queensland, I'd say Mitchell Swepson, the leg spinner. He's a very, very funny guy. It doesn't always show it in the public, but one of the funiest people I know.

Who was the funniest teammate in the Australian dressing room?

I think I always found Davey very funny because he was just nonstop with information. He was like ChatGPT. He knows everything, has an answer for everything. So I'd try and wind him up and ask him absurd questions, but So you know the answers. And he'd be accurate maybe about 80 % of the time as well.

Any funny memories of opening the batting with David Warner?

On the field, David is very intense batting with and very disciplined with the process. So a lot of the fun times are just the banter around the game and off the field. And like I said, away from the game. We spent a lot of time together. I think we resonated with each other because we were both opening. We had the same job on game day. So, yeah, I always had a good laugh with Davey.

Which teammate gave you the most honest cricketing advice?

Most honest? I think everyone's pretty honest. I think we're mindful of trying to be the best players and teams that we can be. Usman Khawaja is always a good one to talk to. If you want some feedback on how your batting is going, If you won't sugarcoat it, and that's good. He would tell you what he sees and areas that he thinks that you can improve. So yeah, Usman is always a really good one.

Any moment when Steve Smith’s obsession with batting surprised you?

No. Nothing surprises me with smudge. When it's 11:00 at night and you can't sleep because the guy next door was shadow batting and tapping on the floor, there's no surprise as no surprises after that.

Which teammate always arrived late but never got in trouble?

Lateness in the Australian system is very frowned upon and not accepted. So no one was really late in Queensland or Australia. It's an area that we're still working on in Italy. The boys are sometimes a little bit late and it drives me mad. But, yeah, can't pinpoint too many individuals at the moment, but across the board, probably need to improve in that area.

Who was the dressing-room DJ in your time with Australia and now in Italy?

DJ for Australia, when I was there, it was actually the team analyst, believe it or not. I don't know how he got that job. I think he just knew how to work Spotify and the speakers. So he became the DJ. In the Italian team, we've got guys from all over the world, different cultures. So we share the music, which is fantastic. We've got the Western Sydney boys that play the pub songs. We've got English guys. We've got guys from Asia. So we've got all sorts of different genres. It really brings us together.

Did any senior like Michael Clarke or Ricky Ponting give you a piece of advice you still follow?

To be honest, the biggest piece of advice I still remind myself now is Darren Lehman. He was my first coach at Queensland, so my first year. He pulled me aside and just said, Joe, just remember, the game of cricket is a very, very hard game. It's bloody hard. Never forget that. It resonated with me because I think Bulf averaged about 60 in first-class cricket, and he's reminding people that the game's hard. So you go through ups and downs and get really down yourself when the game's not working out. But you remind yourself that the ball is moving in the air. It deviates off grass. It's very easy to nick off or miss a ball and get bowled. It's part of the game. And you move on to the next innings.

Any Italian teammate with a hidden talent that shocked you?

No, not as of yet. Maybe at the end of the World Cup, a good four to six weeks together, we might find some hidden talents. I thought the boys would be better at football than what they are, but maybe that speaks more for where Italy is at with their football at the moment.

One Italian teammate who reminds you of an Aussie cricketer you played with?

I think Benny Manenti. Very competitive out in the field, really gets in the contest. We bat and ball, actually. He really does compete hard. I love chucking him the ball and just letting him go to work. So I'd say Benny.