Virat Kohli is checked by Australia's Mitchell Johnson, left, Steve Smith and David Warner, right, after Kohli was hit in the head with a bouncer from Johnson during the third day of their cricket Test match in Adelaide, Australia. (AP Photo)
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson feels new India Test skipper Virat Kohli's "in your face" attitude will spill over to his captaincy and will bring an aggressive approach to the way the Indians play cricket.
Kohli and Johnson have had frequent run-ins during the first three matches of the four-Test series, which Australia have already sealed in their favour after winning the first two Tests and the third being a draw.
"It could be quite interesting because they're not known for that aggressive type of play. But ever since I've seen him play cricket, I've always seen him pretty fiery," said Johnson.
"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 MS (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) did. He is a fierce competitor and he really does like to get involved in it all," he added.
Johnson said Kohli's approach hardly changes irrespective of who the opponents are. "It doesn't matter who he plays against, he plays in your face and that is how he likes to play the game. 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," said Johnson.
Johnson, meanwhile, said he was forced to cut down on his pace due to the longer stints he was asked to bowl against India but is now keen to go back to his shorter spells, similar to those he fired down at England last summer.
Except for an influential spell on the final morning of the Gabba Test, Johnson has not been up to the mark so far in the ongoing series against India, and also had to reduce his pace by around 10km/h than what England and South Africa were subjected to. Key to his high speed were the short bursts of around three overs that Michael Clarke kept Johnson fresh for.
"I've been bowling longer spells. That's been at the back of my mind where I know I'm going to be bowling four, five, six over spells that I can't be flat out every ball. It has dropped off a little bit," Johnson insisted.
'Kohli has a long way to go'
Elsewhere, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi feels that Kohli is "too emotional" as a leader and it will take him some time to fill in the captaincy void left by Dhoni's Test retirement.
Afridi said he was a big fan of Kohli's cricketing skills but he feels the Indian needs to improve as a leader of the pack.
Kohli is set to lead the team in the final Test of the series against Australia, starting January 6 in Sydney.
"I felt disappointed to learn about Dhoni's retirement decision because he is a fighting character and has been a great leader for Indian cricket. He has led many times from the front for them," he said.
"Dhoni has changed the face of Indian cricket and took them to the pinnacle of success and his captaincy will be missed by the Indian team. He has led them well in all formats," Afridi told a TV channel.
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