NEW DELHI: As powerhouses India and Australia gear up for the ICC World Test Championship final starting Wednesday at The Oval, former India captain Virat Kohli said that the Indian Test side has earned the respect of a formidable Australian team and the marquee clash will be a 'battle of equals'.
India have twice beaten Australia in their own backyard -- 2018-19 and 2020-21 editions of the Border-Gavaskar trophy -- apart from winning the 2023 Test series at home and Kohli believes it has forced the Australian side not to take the Team India lightly anymore.