Smith managed to counter the spin from the left-arm bowler by coming down the pitch, and he succeeded. Axar then bowled another over without conceding a single run. During the interval when the teams were switching sides, Virat Kohli, who was posted at first slip, put his arms around Smith and initiated a conversation. Both of the cricketing greats were beaming with joy.
Despite all the disagreements between the ex-cricketers and the press from both sides about the Nagpur ground, the India-Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicked off in a good way. Virat Kohli, usually the one who takes the initiative in the field, was the one to show good fellowship with the Australian batsmen. Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma also had some lighthearted conversations with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne throughout the first session of the opening Test match in Nagpur on Thursday.
It all began when Ravindra Jadeja sent a delivery past Labuschagne in his initial over. The Australian player glanced at Kohli, who was standing by the slip cordon, and indicated the ball should have gone untouched.
Watch the incident here:
There were several pleasant interactions between the Indian spinners Axar Patel and Jadeja and Smith, and Labuschagne, with the two Australians signalling thumbs up to the Indians a couple of times after they beat their bat.
The most enjoyable of these exchanges was likely the brief conversation between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith in the 14th over of the Australian innings. Smith stepped down the pitch to counter the spin from the left-arm spinner and was successful. Axar finished another maiden over. During the change of ends, Kohli, who was at the first slip, put his arms around Smith and they exchanged some words. The two cricketing heroes were both beaming.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Kohli and Smith have had a friendly exchange on the playing field. In 2019, the Indian captain showed his support for the Australian batsman during India vs Australia group stage match of the ODI World Cup when the crowd was jeering him.
