Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has said India will adopt a more aggressive approach and redefine the way the country plays cricket under new skipper Virat Kohli starting from the fourth and final Test, beginning Jan 6.
Kohli captained India in the first Test at Brisbane and called upon an attacking mindset to counter the Australians, renowned for their tactic of "mental disintegration" of the opponents through sledging.
He entered into a full-on confrontation with Australia's leading pacer Mitchell Johnson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and the left-arm pacer said he expects more of the unabashed attitude from the young Indian.
"It could be quite interesting because they're not known for that aggressive type of play," Johnson was quoted as saying by aap.com Friday.
"But ever since I've seen him play cricket, I've always seen him pretty fiery. So he'll definitely be an aggressive type of captain I think in the way he sets fields, and I think you'll see a lot different to what Dhoni did."
Johnson also noted that Kohli was a extremely competitive individual.
"He's an interesting character. He is a fierce competitor and he really does like to get involved in it all."
India's previous captain Dhoni, in comparison, preferred a more composed approach and asked the teams to "tone down" the verbal barbs during his last press conference as India skipper.
But Johnson expects a change in mentality , irrespective of the opposition.
"It doesn't matter who he plays against, he plays in your face and that is how he likes to play the game," Johnson said.
The 33-year-old pacer said he expected the on-field chatter to continue at Sydney.
"It's just harmless stuff, that's out there. There's a lot of talk out in the media at the moment as bad sledging and pretty full on stuff but it's all pretty harmless," the Queenslander said.
"Virat's just been telling us how many runs he's scored and we've just been saying we're two nil up in the series so that's pretty much it. It's always been part of the game and always will be."
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
