Mitchell Johnson tries to create rift between Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, says 'he changed Indian Cricket'

Former Australia National Cricket Team pacer Mitchell Johnson heaped rich praise on India National Cricket Team batter Virat Kohli ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He recalled his battle with the batter during the 2014-15 series and highlighted the former Indian skipper's attitude during the series.

Young Virat Kohli, who took the leadership of the Indian Test team in 2014, changed the way the India National Cricket Team played Test cricket. He didn't shy away from giving it back to the opposition, and the way he carried his team along was the stand-out feature for him.

Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Johnson was one of the main highlights of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15. The two players didn't shy away from giving it to each other and exchanged a lot of words with each other during the series. Both had success against each other as they kept fans entertained.

It’s not an understatement to say that Kohli changed the face of Indian cricket - Mitchell Johnson

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 around the corner, Mitchell Johnson hailed Virat Kohli’s aggressive attitude. He pointed out how the batter changed the face of Indian cricket. He revealed how Indian batter gave it back to them, which they were not used to. Writing in his column for The West Australian, he explained:

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

Mitchell Johnson stressed how Virat Kohli annoyed him with his comments in the media after he tried to run him out. He added:

“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."

He then focussed and harnessed his energy and piled on the runs – all 169 of them - Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson further revealed how they got into the ear of Virat Kohli, but after getting dropped, the batter focussed on his batting. He revealed that in his head, he praised the batter. He elaborated:

“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."

I’d like to see him make one more Test ton in Australia - Mitchell Johnson on Virat Kohli

Mitchell Johnson said that he wants Virat Kohli to get another hundred in Australia this time around. He stressed that he wants to see best vs best. He concluded.

“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."

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