Steven Smith: “Virat would understand how Starc is attempting to harm him.”

The main undercurrent of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Friday night match against Kolkata Knight Riders is probably going to be the match between Mitchell Starc and Virat Kohli.

Since joining RCB in 2015, under the leadership of Virat Kohli, Starc is participating in his maiden IPL. Despite Starc’s first season in 2014 also being with RCB, the two have never faced each other in the IPL.

Steven Smith, one of the analysts on ESPNcricinfo’s Time-out during IPL 2024, stated on the show on the eve of the RCB vs. KKR match, “I quite like [Star’s] match-up to Virat, the ability to swing the ball back down the line as a lefty.” “We have witnessed Kohli leave on a few occasions in the company of Trent Boult, Mohammad Amir, and Sheheen Afridi. Kohli got a chance when Sam Curran was dropped at slip in the opening match over the Punjab Kings. For this reason, I really enjoy the left-handed matchup

Also read: Pakistan will go on a three-T20I trip of Ireland in May, marking the first meeting between the two teams since 2018

When he hadn’t made a run against the Kings, Jonny Bairstow took Kohli out of the game when he attempted a drive away from the body. After that, Kohli struck 77 runs off of 49 balls to win the match. After 412 runs were scored in the match, Starc’s IPL 2024 debut against Sunrisers Hyderabad finished with an underwhelming record of 0 for 53.

Smith feels that Starc might aim to catch Kohli’s outside edge while angling it away in the way Curran tried, at a faster tempo. Smith has played 187 games with Starc for Australia across formats and has led him in 58 of those.

Starcy’s going to swing the ball back down the line early on, I’d guess, and then exploit the wobble seam to get across him [Kohli], and perhaps try and pick him off’, Smith explained. It will be an exciting game, and I’m sure Virat is aware of how Starc is attempting to target him as well. Whether he attempts to simply take the swing out of the game or not, we’ll have to wait and watch. Seeing how he responds to that will be intriguing.”

Despite never playing against one another in the IPL, Kohli has faced 28 deliveries from Starc in T20 matches for India and RCB in the now-gone Champions League. During those matches, Kohli blasted 47 runs off of Starc without giving up a single wicket. With 52 dismissals, Kohli’s overall T20 average against left-arm pace is 31.53.

“You obviously learn as you go along, and you understand what players are trying to do to try and get you out,” Smith stated regarding Kohli. He would have undoubtedly seen that information and made an effort to do better all along. Thus, it promises to be a pleasant match.”