'It wasn't right': Steve Smith and Virat Kohli's candid chat before Test

Virat Kohli has opened up about the reasons why he begged India's supporters to stop booing Steve Smith last year.

Kohli and Smith have had their fair share of run-ins on the field, most notably as opposing captains during Australia's heated tour of India in 2017.

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But there is also plenty of mutual respect, as was the case at the 2019 World Cup.

England skipper Eoin Morgan refused to ask fans to stop jeering Smith and David Warner, who returned from their year-long suspensions during the tournament.

Kohli adopted a different view.

The superstar, unhappy with crowd members getting stuck into Smith on the boundary, told India's vocal fans to stop booing the Australian during a pool game.

The gesture earned Kohli the International Cricket Council's spirit of cricket award for the year and plenty of admirers.

The incident was one of many intriguing topics that came up during a 30-minute chat between the world's two best batsmen, which Cricket Australia captured in the team hotel leading up to the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval.

Steve Smith thanks Virat Kohli for sporting gesture

Kohli and Smith ask each other a series of questions during the video, discussing their junior days, favourite innings and other memorable moments.

"I remember I sent you a message that night saying thanks for that, that was top class," Smith said.

Kohli responded by saying that "nothing can be that permanent, that you carry it for life".

"There was an incident that happened and you guys realised what had happened," Kohli said.

"You came back after a long time, having gone through everything that you had to.

"People make mistakes and they learn from it and I just felt like it's not fair to target an individual personally.

"That wasn't right.

"Instinctively I told them not to boo you because you were fielding there for quite a bit ... as much as you play against each other, there's a human side to things."

Kohli and Smith also gave an insight into the 'batting bubble' mindset they adopt during special knocks.

"You get into that space where you feel - it's not invincible - but you feel like everything you're doing is working in your favour ... it's a great place to be," Smith said.

Kohli agreed, having earlier recalled his own "trance mode".

"It's just bliss. It's amazing," he said.

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