Retired quick Mitchell Johnson has fanned the flames ahead of Australia's pivotal World Twenty20 clash with India by questioning Virat Kohli's ability to handle pressure.
The hosts meet Australia in Mohali on Sunday to determine who joins Group Two winners New Zealand in the last four and India will hope their 27-year-old superstar Kohli can come to the fore in the all-or-nothing clash.
India's number three has been the Aussies' nemesis of late, scoring half-centuries in each of three T20s between the two countries in January, which came on the back of their five-match one-day international series when he averaged 76.2.
Kohli warned Australia that any attempts to get under his skin out in the middle would only motivate him further, yet the sledging began 24 hours earlier on social media courtesy of Johnson.
The 34-year-old, who called it a day on the international circuit last year, took to Twitter to highlight Kohli's World Cup semi-final innings in 2015, when he made just one before Johnson removed him.
Quoting a tweet from Cricket Australia which included Kohli's assertion he is motivated by verbal sparring, Johnson said: "Love it!! Went missing in WC semi last yr when it really counts"
Kohli had earlier insisted at a press conference that he was prepared for whatever tactic Australia would implement to try to destabilise him.
"I've always said I tend to thrive in those situations," he said of facing possible sledging.
"You just cannot go in with that mindset only when entering the field. You need to be versatile, you need to be able to play within yourself as well and that's something I'm learning and have been able to do for the past few months.
"Debate on the field or not, it doesn't really matter to me. I'm pretty sure of the plans I take into the middle. If I get into a debate with anyone and if I have to take a certain stance, that doesn't necessarily put me off my game. If anything, that motivates me more.
"But that doesn't mean if I don't get into a debate with someone I won't be motivated to win the game for my team.
"It's something that I've come to terms with, that not every team is going to have a go at you. It's better to plan your innings without that situation and if that situation comes in, you have to take it as more fuel to the fire.
"Australia are a strong side that play with a lot of passion and I believe in playing in the same way. I like that challenge, I've always enjoyed playing against Australia."
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