As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series approaches, former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson reflected on his well-known rivalry with Indian superstar Virat Kohli. The first Test of the five-match series is set to begin on November 22 in Perth. Historically, the Test series between India and Australia has generated significant attention due to the fierce competition between the two teams. Nevertheless, nothing has compared to the intense confrontations between Kohli and Johnson in their personal contests.
One of the most notable clashes between the two occurred during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in 2014. Tensions flared when Johnson, attempting to run out Kohli, unintentionally struck him with the ball, leading to an on-field altercation.
“Much of our conflict originated from the Boxing Day Test in 2014 when I threw a ball that struck him. My intention was purely to run him out, but he didn’t appreciate what happened. He made some remarks in the media that night indicating he had no respect for me as a player, which frustrated me. From our perspective, we aimed to unsettle Kohli as soon as he entered the crease to distract him from his game. We wanted to provoke him into playing an aggressive shot early on,” Johnson noted in his column for The West Australian.
“During that Test match at the MCG, we managed to catch him off guard early, causing him to chase a delivery he shouldn’t have due to his frustration, and unfortunately, we let him off the hook when he was still on low runs. He then channeled his energy effectively and scored 169 runs. As I bowled to him, I remember thinking we had to dismiss him quickly, or we could be in a difficult position. If you didn’t get Kohli out within the first 10 balls he faced, he would often make you regret it,” he continued.
The Australian fast bowler expressed that he relished his rivalry with Kohli, as both players approached the game in a “comparable manner.”
“I had a highly publicized personal rivalry with Kohli. We had numerous interactions during matches, which I found enjoyable. Although I didn’t know him outside of cricket, we shared a similar approach to the game on the field – being aggressive and not shying away from challenges. Some prefer a more reserved style of play without exchanges with opponents, but I relished that aspect of the game,” he remarked.
“I would sometimes feel frustrated during our confrontations, but I also appreciated that he always kept pushing against me. There’s a great satisfaction in getting out one of the top players, and I’m sure he felt the same thrill when he managed to hit me for a four or a six,” he continued.
