The last time Steve Smith and Virat Kohli went head-to-head was in the Australia summer of 2014-2015, with the baggy greens enjoying a 2-0 series victory over four Tests.
Smith cracked 769 runs at 128.16 with four tons, and two half centuries – Kohli was majestic in his 692 at 86.50 with four tons and a half-century.
Smith took over as Australian captain in the second Test at the Gabba from the injured Michael Clarke, while Kohli was vice captain to the incredible MS Dhoni.
In nine days, starting at Pune in the first of four Tests, both are captains of their country with Smith the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, and Kohli number two.
Indeed a battle of the batting heavyweights, with Kohli knocking hard on Smith’s door.
He has become the first to score double centuries in four successive Test series, eclipsing compatriot Rahul Dravid, and the greatest batsman of them all Sir Donald Bradman.
The Kohli scoreboard:
The Dravid scoreboard:
The Don’s scoreboard:
It’s an interesting breakdown with 240 fours struck between the trio but only eight sixes, none by the Don supporting his often repeated comment – “If you keep the ball on the ground, you can’t be caught”. The Don only hit six sixes in his entire career.
India unbeaten at home since 2012
India hasn’t lost a Test at home since 2012 when England upset them.
The home side immediately got back on the winning track by hammering Australia four-zip to kick-start a unbeaten streak of 13 home Tests to this day.
It would be fair to say whoever wins the batting stakes between Kohli and Smith will go a long way to deciding the series.
Australia has two in the world’s top 10 ranked Test batsmen with Smith on top and David Warner number five – India just the one with Kohli.
But both countries have two each among the top 10 Test bowlers with spin twins Ravi Ashwin number one and Ravi Jadeja two, with Josh Hazlewood at three, and Mitchell Starc 10.
On turning Indian wickets, that gives India a huge advantage.
But that same turn could well see rookie leggie Mitchell Stepson, just 23, make his Test debut after only 14 Sheffield Shield games for Queensland.
His figures aren’t earth shattering with 41 wickets at 32.82, but he’s impressed those who count in his captain and vice captain, as well as the greatest leggie of all time Shane Warne.
Stepson has to beat two of the other three in the baggy green spin squad in Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe, and Ashton Agar to make his debut.
That will happen, even though a month ago Stepson was seemingly most unlikely to play, just on a learning curve.
But he could well turn out to be a major playmaker after all.
Bring it on.
Bobbo7
Guest
I'll add also that Joe Root averages 53 in India and 59 in England
Bobbo7
Guest
Kohli averages only 13 in 10 Test innings in England. He is a very good bat, but the England average speaks volumes... he is a very good player on flat tracks.
Ben
Roar Guru
Oh, so if you hit runs against a "superb" side like Sri Lanka... You've "got the goods"... ???
Don Freo
Guest
...and outplayed all the younguns again today against Sri Lanka.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Twisted or not, Shaun Marsh's subcontinental record speaks for itself.
Bfc
Guest
Meanwhile, the player with the second highest Test batting average behind Bradman has quietly retired from Test cricket. Adam Voges is just another batsman who has suffered form the erratic form of the CA Selectors and their ageism approach to selections....
Kyle Humphrys
Roar Rookie
the spin thing has more to do with Australian grade cricket pitches being rolled to produce no spin rather than Indian turners. I think the batsman are well up to the challenges and have a great advantage watching how three teams have failed there.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
I am not so sure it will be Kohli v Smith all the way. Yes, they will be dominant. But the huge scores India has made have come thanks to some excelletn performances from the "supporting cast" if you like, the Vijay, the Pujara, the Rahane etc. Batting has also been fairly deep with Jadeja starting to transfer his First Class batting prowess to the Test arena, in addition to Ashwin's obvious capabilities with the bat. On the Indian bowling side, I am not convinced Australia has batsmen with the skill to consistency score against the spin. Smith is an exception given his unbelievable reflexes and skill. And honestly, India would be just plain stupid to provide sporting tracks in all the Tests to Australia as they did to England and Bangladesh. If they do, then Starc and Hazelwood will be a dominant factor. What I think will make the contest more even than people expect, is that if there are spinning tracks, they wont be in more than a couple of the venues. The others will give Australia a fair chance if the batsmen and bowlers can take it.
Don Freo
Guest
Easier call to make once you have aeen Smith in all conditions.
Tom M
Guest
Kohli will win in a white wash, he is a far better batsman in all conditions than smith.
Ben
Roar Guru
More referring to us getting flogged because we chose a good domestic batter to wear the baggy green. I like how you tried to twist it there but...
Don Freo
Guest
Will Shaun Marsh's selection really have that kind of impact on Kohli's score? How?
Ben
Roar Guru
If Ashton Agar and/or Shaun Marsh are selected... Kohli averages between 80 and 100 for the series and India win the series by a white wash.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Agreed...
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Yes, it would be battle Royal between Kohli and Smith, but there would be some other battle to be noticed like Australia's pace versus India's spin. Some other aspects are also to be seen, like how the Australian new-comers like Renshaw, Handscomb and also Khawaja fares in Indian condition.
mark chap
Guest
virat kohli will win that battle easily but that will not decide the match. whether the bowlers can pick 20 wickets or not is the question. can't see them picking more than 10/12 wickets in a match.
david adolf
Guest
we scored more than 400 two times and lost by an innings on both occasions, one time we did scored 530 but still couldn,t beat them. no way australia can beat ind.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Kohli will definitely score monster runs, there's no question. Smith will be interesting - he has all the tools required to succeed against spin but often plays reckless shots looking to dominate rather than guarding his wicket. Hopefully he will be determined to just grind out big runs this time around.
Baz
Guest
i think Sok n lyon will play with hazelwood n strac as bowlers.
Peter wolf
Guest
Either way really looking forward to the series I disagree it's never a batt between batsmen now with the ranking as above it will be Interesting to see how much the Aussie batsmen can put a huge score on the board and if we can score over 450 or more it should be an interesting battle on both fronts