Vaughan acknowledged that the play of both sides’ number fours will once again determine the outcome of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Steve Smith and Virat Kohli.
Michael Vaughan, the former captain of England, claimed that the match between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith would once again be crucial in determining the outcome of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia is eager to defeat India in a Test series, something they haven’t done in the last ten years. Two home Border-Gavaskar series losses have damaged the defending World Test Champions’ stellar hosting record.
A home Test series loss to New Zealand has put pressure on the Asian Giants as well, making it difficult for them to advance to the World Test Championship final. To go to the WTC final for the third time in a row, India must defeat Australia 4-0 in five games.
The outspoken critic Vaughan said Smith appeared cool and collected during the ODI series against Pakistan, and his eyes showed that he had regained his rhythm and would be eager to win the BGT.
In the two innings we witnessed during the one-day series, Steve Smith appeared to have that flow (back) at number four. When Steve is performing well, his eyes are visible; he simply appears calm and collected. That’s what he (has) discovered,” Vaugan told Fox Cricket.
When he arrives here and touches down in Australia, I believe Virat Kohli realizes that he has had a great deal of success here,” he continued.
One may debate whether of the fours, Smith or Kohli, has the more series.
Smith and Kohli like to bat against each other’s teams, and their records are self-evident. With eight hundreds and five fifties in 424 innings, the Indian great has amassed 2042 runs at an average of 47.48 in 25 Test matches versus Australia. In the last ten years, he was crucial to India’s dominance over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With two series victories each at home and away, India has won the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
In addition, Smith has amassed the same total of runs against India in Test matches—19 Tests at an incredible average of 65.87—but in less games than Kohli.
Vaughan acknowledged that the performance of both teams’ number four hitters will once again determine the outcome of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
One could argue that the series’ deciding factor could be which of the number fours has the largest series. He remarked, “I believe that fifteen to twenty years ago, you had to come to Australia and consider getting 500 in the first things.”
