Kohli predicts aggression, not insults

Kohli says the pandemic, which has claimed some 1.64 million lives around the globe, has reaffirmed to players that the “grudges” of the past are “absolutely pointless”. That players can still take the field during such times is a victory in itself, he said.

“You’re still going to be professional and make sure you’re positive and aggressive in your body language and the way you go about things on the field, but I don’t think things are going to be as personal as they used to be,” Kohli, front and centre in several confrontations involving the two sides, said.

“It’s not like the games haven’t been as intense or competitive, it’s just the unnecessary stuff has been filtered out.

“I feel like there’s much more respect between the sides. And you can see that on the field and I hope that the cricket continues to be competitive, we should not compromise on the quality of the cricket.”

Tensions, however, do not get time to fester during the shorter formats and temperaments not tested by hours under a hot summer sun. Kohli’s confrontation with Tim Paine two years ago was the flashpoint of the series but lacked the nastiness of previous encounters.

“Banter is going to go on here and there, all the time, that’s the highest level of cricket we play at. It’s going to be competitive, there’s going to be tension, stress, emotions flaring now and then,” Kohli said.

“But I don’t foresee anything getting personal anymore and I think all of us getting smarter and a few more years into our careers, so were going to make better and smarter choices, but make sure the quality of the cricket remains.”

While many Australians know this Test will be the only time they see Kohli this series, few will have considered this as their last opportunity to see him live in the traditional format.

It could be at least three more years before Kohli is back in this country, with the Indians not due for a Test tour here in the current Future Tours Programme, which runs until the start of 2023. If they were to tour in 2023/24, Kohli will be 35.

Regarded as a firebrand after flipping the bird on his first visit in 2011/12, Kohli has become a statesman of the game, even if his combativeness can still occasionally come to the fore on and off the field.

“I have been touring this place for many years now, it’s a wonderful place to play cricket,” Kohli said.

“When you perform well here you earn the respect of the public. There will be anticipation and chat around wanting to see you play, same with Jasprit [Bumrah].

“I’ve been coming here for many years. When you do well here, the public looks forward to seeing you on the field,” Kohli said.

“I think for us, more importantly it’s about the general public wanting to see India performing as a team, which was the highlight of our last tour here.

“Our focus remains that, all the external things are not in our control here, something we do not focus on.

“That’s great for publicity for the series and so on and so forth but for us the focus truly and simply remains how well we can do as a team here.”