'Pitch' battle in Ranchi: Virat Kohli-Steve Smith feud continues with no end in sight

New Delhi: It seems, there's no end in sight. The Virat Kohli-Steve Smith feud took a new turn on Wednesday with both the skippers taking different stands on the nature of the pitch which is being prepared for the third Test in Ranchi.

The 'pitch' battle was preceded by Aussie skipper Smith's "complete rubbish" comments regarding Kohli's claims on DRS controversy.

"From my point of view I think they're completely wrong. I obviously came out after the game and said I made a mistake and it was an error on my behalf, it was a brain fade," Smith said at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the third Test here.

"In regards to saying we do it consistently, that's complete rubbish in my opinion. I think he was wrong in his statement," Smith said of Kohli's allegations that the Aussie skipper had on previous occasions too resorted to taking dressing room's help on whether to call for a review.

It was followed by their pitch 'report', and they have different takes.

Kohli said external conditions would determine how the pitch would behave.

"A lot of things like weather go behind how the pitch would behave. In hot and humid conditions, we get reverse swing. It's not just the wicket but external conditions play a role," Kohli said on the eve of the third Test.

"I've not seen a cricketer who can predict the outcome after seeing a pitch. I think it's hard to assess how much it will turn or seam. That's why it's said cricket is a complicated sport. You have to be always prepared," the Indian captain added.

But Smith reckoned that they are in for another rank turner, and he even predicted the pitch to break from second day itself.

"This wicket is no different. I think the first day, it will hold together reasonably well and then start to break up from there. So again, it's about adapting to what we're dealt with out in the middle and ensuring that we can be in the contest for a long time.

"I think you have to be hitting the stumps majority of the times. You have to keep things as simple as you can, try and build pressure and perhaps take wickets in different ways. We've got plans in these kinds of wickets, where there isn't much bounce," he said.

With the four-match series 1-1, the third match will be crucial for either side in their bid to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.