Smith-Kohli Rivalry: An ODI Era Ends

Australia’s legendary batsman Steve Smith announced his retirement from ODI cricket on 5 March 2025. With Smith’s retirement, a chapter of the historic rivalry between him and India’s legend Virat Kohli in the world of cricket also came to an end.

The End of an Era: Smith vs Kohli in ODI Cricket

The two players have faced each other in many high-voltage matches in the last decade. Especially, these two giants have given tough competition to each other in ICC tournaments. Let’s take a look at the major matches played between these two giants in ICC ODI tournaments and also know how this clash became one of the most exciting rivalries in cricket.

Key Moments in the Smith-Kohli ODI Rivalry

2011 World Cup: The First Encounter

Steve Smith and Virat Kohli became part of the same tournament for the first time in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. However, Smith was playing as an all-rounder in the Australian team at that time and was not part of the playing XI in the crucial quarter-final match against India.

At the same time, Virat Kohli scored only 24 runs in 33 balls in that match, but India achieved the target of 260 runs and knocked Australia out of the tournament. This match was the first chapter of the initial rivalry between the two players.

2015 World Cup: Smith’s Dominance

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith faced each other in the semi-final match of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. In this match, Steve Smith played a memorable inning of 105 runs in 93 balls and took Australia to 328 runs.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli became the victim of Mitchell Johnson by scoring just 1 run in the pressure match. Australia advanced to the final and ultimately won the title after winning this match by 95 runs. After this match, Smith made his own identity in ICC knockout matches.

2017 Champions Trophy: Kohli’s Response

In the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, the two players clashed once more. However, Australia’s campaign ended in the group stage due to rain. Smith scored only 86 runs in three matches in the tournament.

At the same time, Virat Kohli led India to the tournament final with an outstanding performance that included 258 runs. However, India had to face defeat against Pakistan in the final.

2019 World Cup: Sportsmanship at the Oval

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith were once again face to face in the match played between India and Australia at the Oval in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. In this match, Virat Kohli scored a brilliant 82 runs, helping India to score a huge score of 352 runs.

In response, Smith scored 69 runs, but he could not give Australia victory. In this match, Virat Kohli set a great example of sportsmanship by appealing to the Indian fans to stop hooting Steve Smith.

2023 World Cup: Victories and Defeats

Steve Smith and Virat Kohli faced off twice during the 2023 Cricket World Cup. In the first league stage, India defeated Australia in Chennai, where Smith scored 46 runs while Kohli played a match-winning inning of 85 runs.

However, Australia defeated India in the final to win the sixth World Cup title. In the final, Smith was dismissed without opening the account, while Kohli scored 54 runs but could not lead India to victory. In this tournament, Kohli became the top scorer of the tournament by scoring 765 runs, while Smith scored 302 runs.

2025 Champions Trophy: The Final Clash

The 2025 Champions Trophy was the last ICC event of Steve Smith‘s ODI career. India defeated Australia in the semi-finals to make it to the final. In this tournament, Virat Kohli scored 217 runs, including a century. While Steve Smith scored 97 runs in three innings. For both players, this was their final face-off in their ODI careers.

Smith vs Kohli: A Statistical Comparison

Overall ICC Tournament Performance

Talking about ICC tournaments, Virat Kohli always maintained an edge over Steve Smith in terms of statistics. Kohli scored a total of 2270 runs in ICC ODI tournaments, while Steve Smith scored 1319 runs. However, in knockout matches, Smith defeated the Indian team many times with his performance.

Impact on Team Success

The rivalry between Steve Smith and Virat Kohli has been one of the most exciting chapters in cricket history. While Smith led Australia to many ICC titles, Kohli took the Indian team to new heights with his batting. Smith’s retirement is like the end of an era for cricket lovers, but his and Kohli’s rivalry will always be recorded in golden letters in cricket history.

Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 SA vs NZ: Finals Sealed By NZ With A Victory In Semi-Finals