The upcoming World Cup 2023 is likely to be the last ODI World Cup for Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, two of the greatest batters, not just of this generation but, of all time.
Both have won the coveted ODI WC trophy once each – Virat Kohli in 2011 in India and Steve Smith in 2015 in India. Both played crucial roles in their teams’ victories.
Ahead of the World Cup 2023, Steve Smith heaped high praise on the Indian batting star, hailing Virat Kohli as an “incredible” player and someone who steps up in big games. This comment from Smith came after Kohli’s thunderous century against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 tournament in Sri Lanka.
“Virat Kohli is an Incredible player. He always step up & delivered in big games. He has done it again & again for India in big games – there are not many bigger players than Kohli,” Smith said on Star Sports.
Steve Smith speaks on Virat Kohli asking crowd to not boo him
Smith also spoke on Virat Kohli’s gesture to ask the Indian crowd to not boo the Australian batsman during the 2019 World Cup in England.
In 2019, Smith had returned from his year-long ban which he was given for his involvement in the Sandpaper gate saga in 2018 in a Test match in Cape Town. During the 2019 WC, he received massive boos from the crowd. In the India-Australia match, when Smith was batting, Kohli asked the Indian fans to not boo him, which the crowd obeyed.
Recalling that incident, Smith said: “It was a very nice moment from Kohli in 2019 WC, crowd was booing me & he told the crowd to just support him, What is wrong with him. That was great from Virat, really appreciate it.”
Smith and Kohli will come face to face in the 3-ODI series later this month ahead of the World Cup. India and Australia will also kick-star their World Cup campaign against each other in Chennai.
