Touted as the 'Fab Four', the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root have proved to be in a class of their own, dominating the charts and making other batsmen look mediocre. But, in recent years, the race that eventually began with four batsmen has narrowed down to two players with both Kohli and Smith elevating their game a notch further.

While Williamson and Root continue to do what they do best, Kohli and Smith seem to have broken away from the 'Fab Four' pack. Just like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in football, the world of cricket is currently savouring the rivalry between Kohli and Smith who continue to outperform each other on the field.

© Reuters

Despite fighting it out to assert domination as the best batsman in modern-day cricket, Kohli and Smith, over the years, also share mutual respect and admiration for each other. The duo have often been seen lauding each other for their unmatched skills during media interactions. Most notably, Kohli was seen asking the crowd to stop jeering at Smith during the 2019 World Cup clash between India and Australia.

In a similar show of respect, Australian batsman had nothing but praise for the Indian skipper over his decision to opt for paternity leave. Losing the 1st Test, India now face an uphill task as captain Kohli is set to miss the remaining three matches in a bid to reunite with wife Anushka as the couple get ready to welcome their first child.

© Twitter/@IPL

While many had questioned Kohli's decision that has put his team in jeopardy, Smith lauded the Delhi batsman for his commitment to family. "I'm sure there would have been a lot of pressure for him to stay but to stand up and want to go home for the birth of his first child, it's a credit for him. It's a milestone that he certainly wouldn't want to miss," Smith said in a virtual press conference before the 2nd Test.

The Australian cricketer also passed on good wishes to Kohli's wife Anushka and soon-to-be-born baby. "I just fist-pumped him at the end (of 1st Test) and said 'Mate safe travels, hope everything goes well with the baby, and pass on my best to your wife'," Smith revealed.

The 31-year-old was also impressed by Kohli's performance in the first innings at Adelaide where the Indian captain scored a brilliant 74. "Obviously, it's a big loss for India, not having him for the rest of the series. We just have to look at the way he played in the first innings. That was a pretty class display against some good bowling on a wicket that was doing a bit," he added.

After suffering an eight-wicket loss, the Indian cricket team will be eager to bounce back in the four-match series with an improved performance in the 2nd Test which is slated to begin from 26th December at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

View the full article