No real need to beat him: Steve Smith spills the beans on his rivalry with Virat Kohli

When we talk about the fab four of modern-day cricket, two of the biggest names that do the rounds are that of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. The duo share an age-old rivalry and yet have the highest possible mutual respect for each other.

With all being said, in the early days, both the players would shed some heat off against each other. However, it’s a different scenario right now and both Steve Smith and Virat Kohli have turned into the most reliable batting options for their nations.

Ahead of India’s tour Down Under, Smith had a few words for Virat Kohli, where he underlined that the competition still is very much alive and it is now about finding the right chord for both the cricketers. Also, this upcoming series will be a stern test of mettle for both sides.

Talking to Star Sports, Steve Smith said, “We get on quite well, share messages every now and again. Look, he is a great guy and obviously a wonderful player. So, it is going to be nice to come up against him again this summer.”

He further added, “There is no real need to beat him or anything like that. It is just about going out and playing and trying to score as many runs as I can and helping Australia have success. That is what it's all about.”

Kohli’s numbers in Australia have been incredible so far. He has played 25 Test matches scoring 2042 runs at an average of 47.48 which features eight centuries and five fifties. Steve Smith has the identical number of runs from 19 Tests at an average of 65.87.