Don’t rile Kohli, warns Hussey

SKIPPER THRIVES ON SKIRMISHES

Australia need a clear strategy to keep Virat Kohli in check and refrain from getting into verbal confrontations with the Indian captain during the four-Test series starting this month, former batsman Mike Hussey has said.

Under leading batsman Kohli, India are unbeaten in their last 18 Tests, winning in Sri Lanka and West Indies, while thumping South Africa, New Zealand and England at home.

The captain’s form has been key to India’s rise to No 1 in the Test rankings, with the 28-yearold scoring three double hundreds and averaging almost 76 in Tests in 2016.

Kohli has said in the past that he does not mind on-field skirmishes and Hussey believes it is that fire in his belly that inspires the Indian skipper to perform better.

“I wouldn’t try and fire him up,” Hussey said ahead of Australia’s tour, which starts in Pune on February 23. “I think he thrives on that and he’s a real competitor.

“He loves the contest out in the middle. There’s no need to get involved in that sort of verbal barrage because I think that fires him up even more.”

Kohli has polarised opinion over his regular run-ins with the opposition and fans, and was fined half of his match fee in 2012 for responding to barracking from the crowd by gesturing with his middle finger during a Sydney Test.

Hussey, one of the former Australia batsmen who has tasted considerable success on the spinning tracks in South Asia, does not feel there is much need for verbal duels.

“I’d make sure we have some very clear plans and we try and stick to them as best as we possibly can,” the 41-year-old Hussey added.

“You don’t want to get carried away with too much talk and lose your concentration of what’s important, which is executing your skills.” –