The Virat Kohli-Steve Smith rivalry has been going on for years now. The fans have their pick for who is the better batsman. Even the Pundits have their favourites. However, there is no real conclusion to that debate. The fans may have a heated rivalry amongst themselves but things are different between the two.
Not everything has to end up in a heated rivalry. Such is the case between these two-star players. The two may be on-field rivals but are good friends off of it. They have even competed against each other in the IPL several times with the IPL 2020 being the recent competition, where they met.
The Video Of Virat Kohli And Steve Smith That Went Viral
Virat Kohli is the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. On the other hand, Steve Smith leads the Rajasthan Royals at present. The two have faced off at the international level previously too.
They have been arch-rivals since their U-19 days as well. However, a recent video of the two having a chat went viral. One of the main topics of discussion was why Virat Kohli asked the fans not to boo Steve Smith back in 2019 at the World Cup. The reply was very simple from the Indian captain.
Steve Smith also said that he remembered that incident. He texted Virat Kohli later that night just to thank him. It was nice to see that both players have mutual respect for each other. Smith said that it was a “top-class” gesture from Virat.
Why Did King Kohli Really Do It? The Fans Want To Know
Virat said, “It was an incident that had happened. You guys realized what had happened. You had gone through everything that already happened and it was done. I feel like in life nothing can be that permanent.”
“It is not good to target a person that personally. As much as it is competitive cricket, there is a human side to the game and the players. We are here chatting now. We do have a chat a few times during the IPL as well.”
“There are instances where you keep meeting individuals. Cricket is all about that. You don’t want to do something that nasty. That is one of the things that I realized. Long-term you realize that there is more to things in the larger perspective. At that moment, I thought that was not the right thing to do (from the fans).”
No Wonder Virat Kohli Is King Kohli For All His Fans
Well, the king of cricket once again proved why the fans really respect and love him. He is not just one of the best on the field but off of it as well.
Both these players are stars of the game. They will surely be legends someday as well. However, these small things last forever. Once again, Virat Kohli has made a name for himself in a way that only a few can. This legacy of good sportsmanship will last longer than any record. There is a lot more to come. However, we must appreciate this mutual admiration that the two players surely have.
