'We Aren't Taken Lightly As A Test Team': Virat Kohli Explains What Makes India-Australia Rivalry Intense

Ace India batter Virat Kohli has said that while the environment around an India vs Australia Test series used to be very tense earlier, after India won two series in a row Down Under, the rivalry turned into respect. As per the former India skipper, India are no longer taken lightly as a Test team and that makes these encounters all the more exciting. India and Australia will face off in a five-match Test series as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which starts in Perth on November 22. India defeated the Australians 2-1 in 2018-19 as well as in 2020-21, with the visitors proving that they are a complete Test team both at home and away. "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," Kohli said while speaking on Star Sports.

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS! ⏳

With just 50 days for the 💥 action to begin down under, the stars talk about what makes it the #ToughestRivalry! 🤜🤛

Watch #AUSvINDOnStar starting NOV, 22 onwards! pic.twitter.com/ZYkVwsYFVe

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 3, 2024

Kohli has a brilliant record in Australia while playing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He has scored 1352 runs in 13 Tests Down Under, at a stunning average of 54. He was exceptional during the 2014 tour when he hit three hundreds. Not just Kohli, but ace Indian allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin has also said that the Aussies are a lot more careful of the current Indian Test side due to the kind of success they have had in Australia. "The Australian cricketers 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," Ashwin said. After the first Test in Perth, India and Australia will play the second Test at the Adelaide Oval from December 6, which will be a pink-ball Test.