Kohli, Smith and the old touch

Their place among the all-time batting greats is settled, but both will be keen to live up to their own lofty standards.

- ASHISH MAGOTRA

MELBOURNE: The India and Australia net sessions are often a beehive of activity with players and coaching staff hustling through the chores to make sure everyone gets what they want. Some want to practice specific shots, others just want to feel bat on ball and the bowlers want to make sure the ball is coming out of the hand fine. But it looks like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith want to bat on and on. If there was a 'value-for-money' tag attached to batting in the nets, we know who the prize would be going to in their respective teams.

Tuesday's sessions saw Smith as energetic as he usually is. He was into the nets early and stayed there for a long time. From net bowlers to throw downs, his method has always been about facing as many balls as possible, while keeping an eye on the nets around him as well. If it is cricket, Smith must be in on the fun. Take, for instance, the moment when Marnus Labuschagne was bowled by Pat Cummins. Both bowler and batter weren't sure what had happened but Smith, who was in the adjacent nets, quipped 'bowled'. When Smith bats, you can almost hear his internal dialogue.

Kohli's session is different. He was among the first Indian batters to get into the nets just after Rishabh Pant. And what strikes one about him is the intensity. While Smith and the other Aussie batters don't mind the chatter behind the stumps (which is where the journalists stand at the MCG), Kohli commands silence and space. Everyone is asked to back away. He isn't averse to shushing the crowd. When Kohli bats, you can feel the smouldering intensity of his determination to succeed.