Virat Kohli v Steve Smith will be interesting: Michael Hussey

Under the aggressive and enigmatic skipper, the Men in Blue are performing like a well-oiled machine. But the charismatic Australian skipper Steve Smith is not a player who will surrender without fighting for victory till the last ball. Hence, the former Australian legendary cricketer Mr Cricket Michael Hussey feels that the battle between the two supremely talented batters, when India face Australia later this year, will be definitely a mouth-watering one.

While the Australians are training hard for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, India are bulldozing the Sri Lankans in their own backyard. After a comprehensive clean sweep in the Test series, Kohli & Co. have outclassed their opponents in the first match of the ODI series. Hussey feels that when the two sides will meet each other next year, fans will get to see two battles- India v Australia and Kohli v Smith.

“Steve Smith will look at individual battles between him and Kohli. The great players, they like to get one up on each other and the opposition. And both being determined and captains as well, I am sure they will be pushing hard at each other, trying their best to get ahead, score more runs than one another. It will be an interesting battle within the battle, a race within a race,” said the Western Australian while speaking to The Hindu.

“These are two pretty passionate teams. And when they get on the field, sometimes emotions run high. We just hope that it doesn’t go too far and the line is not crossed.” he further added.

Hussey further stated that in the modern-day game of cricket, skippers don’t get much time to strategize. “There is not much time to get involved in that kind of stuff because the game’s moving so quickly, the next over, the next phase of the game, the next wicket. And there will not be much chatting because the fields will be spread out,” said the 42-year old.

On the upcoming high-voltage series, he said: “Australia have a good chance of upsetting India. It is a nicely balanced squad. Yes, Mitchell Starc is a huge loss but Pat Cummins has been bowling very well. I still think the team will take a lot of confidence from how they performed in India in the last series here by winning one Test and pushing India all the way. The pitches for the ODIs and the Twenty20 matches should be ideal for batting. “And this should suit Australia.”

India is playing like Australia

Owing to the ruthless performances from Kohli’s men, Hussey admitted that the men in blue are looking like the aggressive baggy greens of his time. “India are now starting to get that tougher Aussie cricket culture as well. Skipper Kohli is very hungry for success, he’s happy to get into a scrap for a win which we haven’t always seen from the Indian teams in the past,” said the man who has struck 22 international tons.

“I am not saying there have not been tough India teams before but now they are willing to get into a fight. That’s got a lot to do with the way Virat leads the team, he’s very aggressive. It’s the Australian way,” Hussey signed off.