"That is no reflection on the class and the ability of the two batters" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Virat Kohli & Steve Smith's numbers ahead of BGT 2024-25
Sanjay Manjrekar recently pointed out how former Australia captain Steve Smith is ahead of Team India's ace batter Virat Kohli in terms of Test number. However, he opined that it wasn't the ideal parameter to judge the ability of the two proven campaigners.
Smith has an incredible average of 57 in Test cricket, having chalked up 9,685 runs across 195 innings. Kohli, on the other hand, has 9,040 runs to his name from 201 innings at an average of 47.8.
Commenting on the Test record of the two batters, Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo:
"When you look at just the numbers, you can see Steve Smith has got a big lead on Virat Kohli but that is no reflection on the class and the ability of the two batters."
The cricketer-turned-commentator suggested that Smith's performance in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against Pakistan augurs well for the right-handed batter ahead of the crucial India Test series. He also suggested that the 35-year-old is quite unpredictable and it won't be a surprise if he takes a counter-attacking approach against the Indian bowlers, adding:
"Some signs that Steve Smith is starting to play well, against Pakistan in that white-ball series, you could see that he was playing some good shots and there was a little bit of an attacking intent there. So, I just wonder whether that is going to be the Steve Smith that we will see because he has been a hard man to predict."
It is worth mentioning that Steve Smith has a stellar record against India in red-ball cricket. He averages 65.87 against India and has amassed 2,042 runs from 37 innings, including nine centuries.
The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy will kick off in Perth on Friday, November 22. The two sides will compete in a five-match Test series against each other for the first time since 1991-92.
"Virat Kohli will have that one final say in Australia" - Sanjay Manjrekar on BGT 2024-25
Sanjay Manjrekar backed Virat Kohli to shine in the five-match Test series against Australia. He emphasized that the conditions in Australia will suit the star batter's playing style.
Manjrekar pointed out how Kohli went on to score four hundreds during India's tour of Australia in 2014-15 after a dismal away series against England. He told ESPNcricinfo:
"Virat Kohli's performance in South Africa, where he was India's best batter by far, the most consistent batter. The most difficult thing for Test batters today to achieve is consistency, and that is what Virat Kohli showed in that series. That's why I am very hopeful that Virat Kohli will have that one final say in Australia because mentally, he's just going to get freed up.
"It's not going to be one of those turners that you get in Wankhede, Pune or Chennai. This is going to be conditions where he feels at home. I still remember that hundred that he got after that series against England where he averaged 13, came to Australia, and got a hundred in the first Test match. He just walks out different when there is just pace coming and not too much swing."
Kohli has enjoyed great success on Australian soil. He has scored 1,352 runs from 25 innings in Test cricket in Australia at an average of 54.08.