We are trying to form a game plan for Virat but won't reveal it now: Steve Smith

Australia captain Steve Smith has said that his team has worked out plans to counter Team India’s captain Virat Kohli in the upcoming 4 match Test series starting from 23rd February. Kohli has been in sensational form off late across all formats and became the only batsman in Test cricket history to smash 4 double centuries in 4 consecutive series when he scored 204 against Bangladesh in the one-off Test in Hyderabad.

With the red-hot form Kohli has been in, he has the topic of discussion on most rival camps. Aussie coach Darren Lehmann though stated that he haven’t chalked out any plans to contain Kohli. Captain Smith though revealed that have made some plans against Kohli but didn’t want to disclose it. “We are trying to form a game plan for Virat but I won’t tell you (what the plan is). He is a class player with four double hundreds recently. They have other class players as well and we have plans,’ Smith was quoted as saying to media while addressing the press conference in Mumbai.

During their previous tour of India in 2013, the Aussies were humiliated by a 4-0 margin but they returned the favours during the 2014-15 series in Australia which they won 2-0. Despite Australia winning the series, India showed a lot of character in the series with Virat Kohli finishing with 692 runs in 4 Test with 4 centuries.

Australia had a topsy-turvy 2016 and made wholesale changes following their consecutive Test defeats to South Africa and since then they have won 4 Tests on a trot, 1 against the Proteas and 3 against Pakistan. Smith said that despite their recent success, India will be a different challenge altogether and they have to adapt very quickly.

Also read: Steve Smith thinks even a tied series in India will be a huge tick for them

The Aussie captain said that he was excited to be back in India and hoped that it will be a successful tour for Australia. “I am excited about the tour. We know it will be difficult playing India in India but hopefully, we can be successful,” he concluded.