Mitchell Johnson: How Virat Kohli changed the face of Indian cricket as the game’s next big thing

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Mitchell Johnson: How Virat Kohli changed the face of Indian cricket as the game’s next big thing

When Virat Kohli first came on the scene, I remember hearing about him before I saw him.

Many were saying he was the next Sachin Tendulkar, even though we all knew Sachin could never be replaced.

I was fortunate enough to play against both Indian legends in all formats and while there are some similarities, they were also very different.

One of Kohli’s attributes stood out early to me above all others – he was up for the ******!

That kind of aggressive attitude was something we had rarely seen from an Indian player at that point. We were used to giving it but didn’t always get it back in return.

While the occasional player from India may have been combative in moments, Kohli really made it a part of his game.

He took his team with him as well so it’s not an understatement to say that Kohli changed the face of Indian cricket, taking a new generation of players and showing them how to play tough cricket.

Camera IconVirat Kohli and Mitchell Johnson. Credit: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

I remember hearing at the back end of Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag’s careers, a young Kohli would push his teammates to go ******* at training, particularly with fielding drills.

He would train like he played and pushed players around him to get better. Kohli was demanding but he is one of those players you want in your team because he has your back and that is important in team sports.

I could sense a difference in the Indian team I played against in 2014/15, my last full Aussie summer before I retired from international cricket the following November.

They were competitive and confident they could beat us at home and while they didn’t do it that summer, won 2-0 by Australia over four Tests, that was the last time the Aussies have won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Indian team now speak in the media with confidence, even arrogance – though not in a bad way.

The Kohli way has rubbed off on many of his teammates across his long career and he has set up the future as well.

I had a well-publicised personal rivalry with Kohli. We had many interactions on the field and I enjoyed it.

While I didn’t know him off the field, on the field we probably played the game in a similar way – taking the game on and not backing down.

Some don’t like that style of cricket and prefer there’s no chat with the opposition, but I enjoyed that part of the game. I would become frustrated during some of our battles, but I also enjoyed that he kept coming at me.

It’s always a nice feeling to get one of the best out, and likewise, I’m sure he enjoyed taking me down and hitting me for a four or a six.

Most of our differences stemmed from the Boxing Day Test in 2014, when a ball I threw hit him on the body.

I was legitimately trying to run him out but he didn’t like what I did. He made some comments in the media that night about having no respect for me as a player, which annoyed me.

The goal from our point of view was generally to get Kohli riled up as soon as he came out to bat and take his focus away from his skills. Get him annoyed and get him playing a big shot early.

I wonder if the situation will give him all the determination he needs or if it will all be too much for him.

In that Test match at the MCG we got him off guard early and had him playing at a ball he didn’t need to in frustration and unfortunately we dropped him on not many. He then focussed and harnessed his energy and piled on the runs – all 169 of them.

When bowling to him, I can remember thinking we had to get him early or else we could be in trouble. If you didn’t get Kohli in the first 10 or so ******, he would often make you pay.

I also remember the cover drives, the pull shots and the urgency of his running between wickets. One of the best players in the world playing me with so much time, I think I even said ‘good shot’ in my head a few times after being driven down the ground.

The 36-year-old is most likely in Australia for the final time on a Test tour. It’s a place he’s done well. He averages 54.08 in Australia – higher than his career average of 47.83 and few batsmen around the world can say that.

His form hasn’t been at its best recently and he will be under pressure to perform again here in front of the many Indian fans who will turn out.

Camera IconKohli during a WACA warm-up match this week. Credit: Ian Munro/The West ***********

I wonder if the situation will give him all the determination he needs or if it will all be too much for him.

As a fan now watching on, maybe I’d like to see him make one more Test ton in Australia. As his adversary from a decade ago, maybe not.

Ultimately, I want to see the best against the best and a series played with all the ***** and urgency that has come to mark this great rivalry.

And I know that’s where Virat will feel right at home.

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