Virat Kohli dominated Mitchell Johnson and Co during the 2014-15 Border Gavaskar Trophy series. (AP)
Former Australia speedster Mitchell Johnson and Virat Kohli were in the spotlight during the 2014-15 Border Gavaskar Trophy series where the Indian batter faced a major litmus test after taking over as Test captain from MS Dhoni.
Taking on the leadership of a transitioning Indian side, Kohli dominated the Aussie bowling led by Johnson even as India conceded a 2-0 series defeat. Kohli lit up his Test captaincy debut in Adelaide with centuries in both innings as India suffered a narrow 48-run defeat. Kohli also scored two more hundreds in the series, scoring 692 runs in four matches, averaging 86.50.
Johnson has hailed Kohli’s attitude during the series and credited him for changing the mindset of the Indian side.
“One of Kohli’s attributes stood out early to me above all others – he was up for the fight!” Johnson wrote in a column for The West Australian.
“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. 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.”
“Someone who doesn’t respect me, I have no reason to respect him.”
Virat Kohli after his tussle with Johnson in 2014.
“That kind of aggressive attitude was something we had rarely seen from an Indian player at that point.”
~ Mitchell Johnsonpic.twitter.com/r3b8KHmh3R
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) November 17, 2024
Johnson and Kohli had a few heated face-offs in the middle. During the 2014 Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, Johnson’s attempted run-out throw in his bowling stride hit Kohli, leaving the Indian batter incensed.
“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,” Johnson said.
Kohli eventually went on to score a then career-best of 169 and led India to a draw. “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.
“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,” Johnson added.
‘Back at home’
While he enters his fifth Australia tour on the back of a poor run and his Test average at an eight-year low, Johnson has backed Kohli to feel at home.
“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 fire and urgency that has come to mark this great rivalry. And I know that’s where Virat will feel right at home,” wrote Johnson.
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