"Since we have won the series in Australia twice, the rivalry has turned into respect" - Virat Kohli on upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Senior batter Virat Kohli has asserted that since India have beaten Australia in the last two away Test series, they have earned the respect of the Aussies. According to the former India captain, they are no longer taken lightly as a Test side.
India and Australia will lock horns in a five-match Test series as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which begins in Perth on November 22. The visitors beat the Aussies 2-1 in 2018-19 and defeated them by the same scoreline in 2020-21.
During an interaction on Star Sports, Kohli opined that the rivalry has taken the shape of respect since India have registered consecutive Test series wins Down Under. The seasoned batter said:
"The rivalry was very intense in the initial years. The environment used to be very tense. Since we have won the series in Australia twice, the rivalry has turned into respect. We are not taken lightly as a Test team. That respect is evident when we play against Australia - that is a team that has beaten us twice in our backyard back-to-back."
Kohli has an excellent record in Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In 13 matches, he has scored 1,352 runs at an average of 54.08, with as many as six centuries. The right-handed batter smashed three tons during the 2014 tour and one each in 2012, 2015, and 2018.
"The mutual respect and camaraderie is a lot better" - Ashwin on India vs Australia Test rivalry
Like Kohli, senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also acknowledged that the Australian cricketers are a lot more wary of the current Indian Test team because of the kind of success they have tasted Down Under. The 38-year-old said in the same video:
"The Australian cricketers definitely know that this team has got the ability and they do respect people on this side of the fence, so does everybody inside the dressing room that I play in. We all know how good the Aussie team is. There are some wonderful cricketers in there. The mutual respect and camaraderie is a lot better."
Ashwin has played 10 Test matches in Australia, picking up 39 wickets at an average of 42.15, with a best of 4-55. Overall, he has featured in 22 Tests against the Aussies and has claimed 114 scalps at an average of 28.36, with seven five-fers and one 10-wicket match haul.