Virat Kohli was in a combative mood after making his third hundred of the series and being involved in a 262-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane.
This is India’s biggest stand outside Asia in 10 years in Tests. It is after 90 years that an overseas pair has posted a 200-run partnership at the MCG. It was indeed a historic association.
Although pleased with his achievements, Kohli was angered by Mitchell Johnson throwing the ball at him at the striker’s end.
The batsman from Delhi said: “I was really annoyed with him hitting me with the ball, and I told him that’s not on. Try and hit the stumps next time, not my body. You have got to send the right message across. I am not there to take to some unnecessary words or chat from someone.
“I am going there to play cricket, back myself. There’s no good reason that I should unnecessarily respect some people when they are not respecting me.”
On whether he respected Johnson, Kohli said: “I respect quite a few of them, but someone who doesn’t respect me I have no reason to respect. There were words in Adelaide as well. I am out here to play hard cricket.”
He added: “I have got a nice friendship with a few of them (Australians). Friendly chats but someone who is not backing off, someone who is saying anything that comes to mouth; I have no reason to respect him.”
Kohli denied that India had fired Johnson up by bowling bouncers at him in Brisbane. He said: “There he was batting, and there was no pressure on him as a batsman. That’s not his job. His job is to take wickets and he was going at 4.7 an over today…didn’t get a wicket throughout the day (Johnson dismissed Kohli at the fag end though), and I backed myself to take him on even if I keep talking to him. You cannot then back off after saying a few words and then not show it with your skill. I decided whenever he comes on to bowl I will back myself and take him on. I don’t mind having a word back, neither does he; so we kept going on.”
“It was going on throughout the day. They were calling me a spoilt brat, and I said maybe that’s the way I am. You guys hate me and I like that. I don’t mind having a chat on the field and it worked in my favour I guess,” he said.
“I like playing against Australia because it is very hard for them to stay calm, and I don’t mind an argument on the field. It really excites me and brings the best out of me. So they don’t seem to be learning the lesson.”
Asked about Australia captain Steven Smith’s comments ahead of the match on the happenings in the Indian dressing room, he said: “I’m hearing that from you.
“I don’t read articles as such. Especially, not on tour.
“Good from them. Some words coming out of their mouth. They have the right to talk, I guess.
“They are 2-0 up right now. Would have been interesting if it had been 1-1 and the same sort of sentences or words had come through from them.
“When you are on top you can, sort of, say anything you want. It’s when the chips are down that you have got to stand up. Say what you have to say and then go out there and prove it.”
“When we played in India there weren’t so many words coming back from them, which was surprising. We are 2-0 down, we still took them on today, and showed what we can do with the bat, which is the character of this Indian team,” Kohli said.
On him and Rahane attacking Johnson, he said: “At that point of time I was actually a little surprised the way Jinx (Rahane) went after him, clearing his leg and all.
“But it was pleasing to watch a guy backing himself, playing for the first time in Australia, taking on a bowler who is looking to get into rhythm.”
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