Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli said he wants a sledge-free tour of Australia.
Speaking to media prior to the team's flight to Australia, Virat Kohli said that he will only get into a sledging war with Australia if they (Australia) start it.
The Indian cricket team will play three Twenty20 internationals, four test matches and three one-day internationals in their two-month tour of Australia.
Indian skipper Kohli is known for his aggressive attitude but he said his side would rely on ability rather than aggression during their tour.
"When it comes to getting engaged in an argument on the field, or in a fight as people want to call it excitedly, I have been completely OK playing without an altercation," he said.
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli speaks during press conference in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Nov 15, 2018. Source: AAP Image/ AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade
"I have enough belief in my ability; I can play without a reason to pump myself up."
Australia's behaviour on the field has been drawn into question in recent times as their three key players were caught on camera doing ball-tampering.
Kohli said he doesn't see the need to attack the Australians, but says previous incidents between the teams were always initiated by the hosts.
"Being captain of the team, you literally have no room for anything else but to think of what the team wants all the time. So, you don't find the need for these things at all and I mean, we were always the ones giving it back."
"We were never the ones starting anything. So, as long as it doesn't start, we have no problem in just focusing on our game and just doing what we need to do and we don’t necessarily need to go and look out for something. If they want to play a certain way, we will reciprocate in that way,"
India's away performance has come under question with the 2-1 loss in South Africa. They then lost to England 4-1, but Kohli thinks his side has learned from the overseas defeats.
"We have spoken as a team after the England series and everyone is keen to learn and correct those mistakes."
India has never won a Test series in Australia, but this tour is widely considered to be their best-ever chance to do so.
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