Warner: Virat Kohli vs. Steve Smith battle will shape the Test summer

Out of the two men who are under the most pressure coming into this summer, something tells me one will rise and take their team with them writes DAVID WARNER.

I’m worried about Virat Kohli … but not for the reasons everyone else is.

I’ve seen this before.

People want to write Virat off after India’s disastrous 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand this month, but I’m actually worried for Australia.

This is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and we know Virat always steps up in Australia and completely embraces that challenge like almost no one else who has ever visited our shores.

There is no better way for him to come out and shut the critics up.

I’m genuinely worried for the Australian cricket team that he’s going to come out and pile on some runs.

For Australia’s sake I hope he doesn’t, but I think he will thrive on the fact he hasn’t done so well for a while and he’s got a point to prove.

Virat Kohli is in the biggest form slump of his career.

Out of the two men who are under the most pressure coming into this summer, something tells me one will rise and take their team with them.

Not that I feel that Steve Smith or Virat ever feel pressure, but the focus has been well and truly on them for different reasons and the series could hinge on which of these two great rivals stands up and responds by scoring big runs.

If one of Smith or Kohli has a blockbuster series it’s going to be an almighty challenge for the opposition to overcome.

It’s a great match-up. There has always been a long history to this battle, although I know from having been in the dressing room, that Australia won’t be focusing too much on Virat and India probably won’t be focusing too much on “Smudge”.

If you hone in too much on one individual, quite often it’s the others around them who end up pulling your pants down.

The heat has been on Steve after he indicated he no longer wanted to open and would prefer to move back down to No.4.

I think he had to own the fact he wanted to move up to open in the first place, but having said that, had Smithy given it 12 months in staying up there he probably would have done a good job.

Smudge is still a world-class batsman at 35 and he is very capable of using this as the catalyst to recapture his best.

David Warner thinks Steve Smith and Virat Kohli are the keys for Australia and India this summer. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Virat is also in unchartered territory, because never before has he really ever had a form slump in his entire career.

People want to marry that up with his age (he turned 36 earlier this month) and what not, but he’s still a world-class player and all great players go through these dry times and come out the other side. Especially if you’re as talented and determined as Kohli.

This will definitely be the last time we see Virat in Australia in Test match whites which is something we should all savour.

Virat has always been the person they rely heavily on to score runs and more often than not in Australia he has proven up for the contest.

I really do think this series may come down to which team’s middle order can dominate.

Middle-order batting wins the games in Australia.

If you can get an opener to bat as long as they can and grind into that second or third session, it always holds you in good stead in Australia because then the middle order can really cash in.

Australia simply can’t underestimate the game-breaking power of Rishabh Pant in the middle-order.

We all remember what he did in Sydney and Brisbane the last time India toured and he’s come back from his horrific car accident fitter, leaner and hungrier.

Despite the threat of Virat and Pant I think Australia at this point are favourites.

India might have won here the last two times they’ve visited, but in 2018-19, Steve and I weren’t playing and then in 2020-21, I was injured for the first two matches.

There are no excuses but I don’t think we were at full strength and in 2020-21 we simply missed a lot of chances at the wrong times – crucial times – which you can’t afford in Test match cricket.

Steve Smith had a forgettable stint as opener. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images.

My tip is Australia to win 3-1.

Where India can come into it and start to dream about another upset is if they can capitalise on some early nerves for Australia and win the first Test in Perth.

If India can take a couple of early wickets at Perth Stadium and open Australia up a little bit then they will get themselves into the fight.

My gut feel though, is that the Australian boys know what they have to do to beat India this time around.

I’m very excited about my new role commentating for Fox Cricket and I won’t be pulling any punches.

Everyone knows my personality and character and I think everyone who knows me knows that if I do say something, it’s never personal.

I will make comment where I think it’s required and if any player or coach don’t feel like they agree, they can get my number and I’m available 24-7 for that phone call.

During my career I picked up the phone and asked questions of people who have made comments and that’s what happens. That’s the workplace we’re in.

Bring on the summer, five Tests against India, it’s going to be a ripper.

Originally published as Warner: Virat Kohli vs. Steve Smith battle will shape the Test summer