India no longer taken lightly by Australia, has earned respect as Test team, says Kohli

London: Prolific batter Virat Kohli says the Indian Test team has earned formidable Australia’s respect after beating them twice in their own backyard and they are no longer taken lightly in the traditional format.

Putting up a solid show of grit and gumption, India pipped Australia in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 editions of the Border-Gavaskar trophy by a similar 2-1 margin.

“Rivalry was intense in the beginning, the environment was also very tense. But since we have won in Australia twice, the rivalry has turned into respect and we are not taken lightly anymore as a Test team,” Kohli told Star Sports.

“I think The Oval will be challenging, we won’t get a flat wicket and batters need to be cautious. We will need to concentrate on our focus and discipline. So you need to have the experience to play as per the conditions and we cannot go in with the expectation that The Oval pitch will play as it always has,” Kohli was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

“So we have to adjust and adapt, we have only one match in a neutral venue so whoever adapts better will win the match. This is the beauty of the World Test Championship, two neutral teams with no home advantage, so it will be very exciting to see how both teams adapt to the situation,” he added.

Kohli also said that the Indian Test team has earned Australia’s respect after beating them twice in their own backyard and they are no longer taken lightly in the longest format.

“Rivalry was intense in the beginning, the environment was also very tense. But since we have won in Australia twice, the rivalry has turned into respect and we are not taken lightly anymore as a Test team,” said Kohli.

“We can feel that respect when we play against Australia, that ‘they have beaten us twice in our own backyard back-to-back and it will be a battle of equals’.” “There used be tension in the air which is not the case now. When you achieve a standing, make your presence felt in the ground no one takes you lightly.”

The familiar foes are slated to play the World Test Championship final at The Oval starting Wednesday.

India qualified for the 2023 World Test Championship Final second on the points table with 127 points and 58.8 Points Percentage System (PCT). While they lost the series in South Africa and drew a five-match series in England, India enjoyed a near perfect record at home with wins against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Australia and another away series triumph in Bangladesh.

Australia on the other hand, qualified top of the table with wins in all three home series during the 2021/23 cycle including a 4-0 Ashes thumping. Other than this, the Pat Cummins-led side registered a 1-0 in Pakistan and a 1-1 draw in Sri Lanka before losing 2-1 in India.