IPL 2024: ‘I am interested to see how Virat tackles Starc,’ says Steve Smith on blockbuster RCB v KKR clash

For the first time in IPL history, two modern-day greats – Virat Kohli and Mitchell Starc, will go up against each other when RCB hosts KKR in game 10 of IPL 2024 on Friday (March 29). Having faced each other countless times since Starc’s international debut more than a decade ago, the two giants of world cricket will finally face off in this premier T20 competition. Starc’s national-side teammate, Steve Smith, feels Kohli will be aware of the challenge against his formidable opponent.

The left-arm seamer, who last took on India great during the 2023 World Cup final, where Australia won the contest for the record sixth time, failed to pick his wicket then. However, Starc’s last IPL run came in 2014 and 2015 with the RCB under Kohli's captaincy.

Speaking ahead of another blockbuster tie in IPL 2024, Smith said he is looking forward to watching this mouth-watering clash between Kohli and Starc, saying both must have their plans ready to tackle the other. However, spotting Kohli’s weakness against the incoming ball, mostly via a left-arm seamer, Smith feels Starc would like to take advantage of it.

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"I quite like [Starc's] match-up to Virat, the ability to swing the ball back down the line as a lefty," Steve Smith said.

"We have seen him [Kohli] get out on a few occasions to Shaheen Afridi, Trent Boult and Mohammad Amir. In the first game against Punjab Kings, Kohli had an opportunity off Sam Curran dropped at slip. So I quite like the left-handed match-up,” Smith added.

How will Starc get Kohli out?

Detailing further on Starc’s possible plan against Kohli, Smith said Starc loves bringing the new ball back and doing that upfront or getting him nicked off a wobble seam.

However, he also talked about how Virat can attack Starc by just coming down the line to him, disallowing the ball to move enough early on.

"Starcy's going to swing the ball back down the line early on, I'd imagine, and then use the wobble seam to go across him [Kohli], and potentially try and nick him off," Smith said.

"It's going to be a good game, and I'm aware Virat would know how Starc's trying to attack him as well - whether he tries to potentially come down the track [to] just take the swing out of play [we'll see]. It's going to be interesting to see how he counters it,” Smith continued.

Although both are yet to face off in this competition, Starc hasn’t dismissed Kohli in T20s (international and now-defunct Champions League), leaking 47 runs.