Australia Test skipper Tim Paine has described Virat Kohli as a polarizing figure, saying that Australian cricketers love to hate the Indian skipper, but they also love to watch him hit. India and Australia are slated to face each other in three ODI, three T20I and four Tests. Kohli will only play one test against Australia, and then return home after being granted paternity leave by the Cricket Control Board in India (BCCI). “With Virat, it’s fun – we love to hate him, but we also love to see him hit as cricket fans. He’s certainly polarizing on that kind of scenario. We love to see him hit, but we don’t like to see him. He scored too many runs,” he said. Paine told ABC News, ESPNCricinfo reported.
During the 2018-19 Australia tour, Kohli and Paine were involved in quite a few heated exchanges on the field. During the second Test in Perth, Kohli and Paine met several times, especially when Paine was batting for Australia.
“Australia and India, it’s a heated competition and obviously he’s a competitive person and so am I. So yeah, there were a few times we had words, but that wasn’t because he was the captain and I was the captain, could Ha been anyone. Usually the best player is the one who rises a little your team, the intensity rises when the best players in the world take the field, “said Paine.
During the 2018-19 series, India managed to record its first victory in a series of tests on Australian soil. The team led by Kohli eventually won the series 2-1 and would now seek to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
“I’m looking forward to it all, to be honest it’s a great series. They beat us here last time, obviously with a different team. I think every time you face the best it’s something you look forward to. Players and like. team, and we certainly are, ”Paine said.
Promoted
The first test between India and Australia will begin on December 17 at the Adelaide Oval and this match will be a day and night contest.
The four-game series will be part of the World Test Championship (WTC). India and Australia are in the top two places in the WTC standings.
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