'It’s Always A Good Contest': Mitchell Starc Eager To Rekindle Rivalry With Virat Kohli

The Test match rivalry between India and Australia stands in a special league of its own for the sport. The past decade has seen one of the most intense matches played out-the high-stakes tussles between Indian batting legend Virat Kohli and Australia's premier fast bowler Mitchell Starc, particularly during matches between them on Australian soil.

'I Enjoy My Battles With Virat Kohli': Says Starc

Despite the keen contest, Kohli and Starc shared a healthy regard for each other, having been teammates briefly in RCB in the IPL. The rivalry now assumes significance as India will travel later this year for a five-Test tour of Australia.

“I enjoy my battles with Virat Kohli just because we’ve played a lot of cricket against one another," said Starc on Star Sports. "I always have some good battles. I’ve obviously got him once or twice and he’s no doubt scored a fair few runs against me. So, it’s always a good contest and one we both enjoy,” he said.

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Kohli-Starc On The Verge To Achieve New Milestones

Both Mitchell Starc and Virat Kohli are on the verge to achieve new milestones in the upcoming Test series. Virat Kohli seems to be more close to achieving them though.

Kohli, has 8,848 runs with 29 centuries, he is inching closer to becoming the fourth Indian batter to score 34 centuries, joining the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. He can also go past 10,000 Test runs, among Indians Tendulkar, Dravid, and Gavaskar have achieved the feat so far. He needs another 1152 runs to reach that figure, and with ten Tests still to come-five at home and five abroad-he could do so, considering his track record in the past.

On the other hand, Mitchell Starc is eyeing 400 Test wickets-a milestone so far achieved only by Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Nathan Lyon among Australians. The left-arm fast bowler will have to record a new mark of most wickets in a Test series ever by an Aussie, being 42 wickets short of this milestone. Unlike in India, Australia is not playing any Tests before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series this year and that makes Starc's challenge even more inauspicious.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy

India will be looking forward to play the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy which will commence from November 22. The five-match Test series is extremely crucial for both the teams. For India Gautam Gambhir will be guiding the side as the head coach, he took over the duty after Rahul Dravid stepped down.

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India's Border-Gavaskar Trophy defense starts in Perth with the first Test. Traditionally, the fast nature of the Perth pitch has always been a tough proposition for India as they have secured just one victory there in four visits. The series will then move to Adelaide for a day/night pink ball Test where India have registered their lowest-ever Test total. The third Test is scheduled to take place in Brisbane, a venue that the Indians harbor fond memories of after their thrilling victory in the fourth Test of the 2021/22 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

The Melbourne and Sydney venues host the action in the series finale. Sydney, in particular, may be the scene of another significant Test win for India which can keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with them.

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