Virat Kohli feels he has a kindred spirit in Dale Steyn, but there will be no love lost on Sunday.
Kohli and Steyn are two passionate cricketers who have made a habit of riling Australia – be it with words or sensational performances.
Kohli notes they have far more in common than that.
“Whenever I meet him, he gives me the biggest hug. We’re always really friendly,” Kohli said on the eve of India’s clash with South Africa in Melbourne.
“I’ve shared great friendships with a lot of South African players over the years and Dale has to be one of the more special ones.
“Off the field, he laughs all the time. It’s pretty similar with me … that’s why we get along really well together.”
However, you can guarantee that won’t be the case on Sunday.
Kohli suggested Steyn was clearly the best bowler in the world, but that wouldn’t stop him piling on the boundaries in their World Cup meeting.
“I’ll be looking to dominate him,” Kohli said.
AB de Villiers was confident that wouldn’t happen.
“He’ll be a handful in this tournament,” the Proteas’ skipper predicted.
De Villiers delivered one of the highlights of last year’s Indian Premier League when he took Steyn for 23 runs in one over.
Asked if he had showed India how to do it, the world’s best batsman could only laugh.
“I wouldn’t say so, no,” he said.
“It’s a different format and completely different conditions, very small field and slow pitches in India.”
De Villiers suggested his side could call on a range of match-winners against India – be it with bat or ball.
“The top four, I believe, is the best top four in the world at the moment,” de Villiers said.
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