Former Australia coach Justin Langer is currently working as a commentator for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final being played between India and Australia at the Oval in London on Sunday. Australia’s former coach Langer bore witness to and described what he saw as a “magic moment” between Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. He disclosed that he heard Kohli sledging Smith and even the former Australian captain gave an epic response to the right-handed batter.
Langer revealed the details of the incident when Kohli was batting during the Indian second innings on Day 4 after they were set a daunting target of 444 runs to win in the fourth innings. Team India started off on the positive note before a controversial decision went in favour of Australia as Cameon Green’s catch was deemed clean and Shubman Gill had to walk back out caught on the bowling off Scott Boland. After that a brief little partnership developed between Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara. However, both batters departed in quick succession.
Post that though Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane ensured that no further damange is done. It was during this passage of play when Langer was on air that he narrated this incident. As Kohli walked past Smith and Langer before the start of the day’s play on Saturday, he made a remark about the way Smith got out on Day 3. However, the ex-Australian opener was surprised by Smith’s response.
“Virat Kohli walked up to Steve Smith and said ‘rubbish shot yesterday’,” Langer said on air on Channel 7.
“Steve Smith just looked at him. If anyone else would have said it he would have gone ‘whatever’. But he said, “that’s right, it was a rubbish shot’. If 99.9 per cent of the population said that to Steve Smith he would go ‘whatever’. But coming from Virat, one genius to another, he goes ‘OK, fair enough’,” he added.
