5 aspects addressed by Kohli & Shastri before the Australia tour

#3 Controversies of the past

"We were never the ones starting anything previously"

Australian tours are known for sledging and the banter going on the field as much as off the field. Stories about the 'Monkey-Gate' incident or Virat Kohli showing his middle finger to the Australian crowd are still fresh in everyone's mind.

Many believe that unnecessary sledging on the field in Australia and the use of abusive language damages the reputation of the Indian team. Also, some people stated that Virat plays his best game only when the opponent sledges him to fire him up.

To clarify this, Kohli answered, "We were never the ones starting anything previously. We were always giving it back. As long as the altercation doesn't start we have no problem focusing on our game and doing what we need to do and we don't necessarily need to go and look out for something. If they want to play in a certain way, we'll reciprocate in a certain way.

"That's how the game of cricket goes. But in our own minds, we have to keep it competitive and not let our energies drop. That'll be our main focus."