India captain Virat Kohli said his team has never been the one to start "anything" but will stand up for itself if the line is crossed by the opposition, while defining aggression ahead of the much-anticipated Australia tour's opening game.
India and Australia will clash in the first T20 International of the three-match series at the Gabba on Wednesday and the skipper was speaking to the media in the tradition pre-series press conference.
On being asked what aggression means to him, this is what he said, “aggression depends on how the situation is on field. If the opposition is aggressive towards you then you counter it. India is not a team that starts anything but we always draw a line of self-respect. If that line is crossed we stand up to that."
"Aggression also means that within team how possessive you are to that situation and as a team how much effort you are putting in for each wicket. You can see that in body language, when bowlers bowl and how long they can keep hitting the same area. Batsmen can be aggressive without saying anything," the skipper, who has often faced criticism for his behaviour, explained.
Australian pacer Pate Cummins Sunday refused to buy Kohli's self-appraisal that he is no longer the one looking for confrontations.
"For me aggression is playing to win and an obsession that I should win every ball for my team. Everyone has a different meaning but for me it means to win the game at any costs and give 120 percent for my team, whether I am fielding or even clapping for someone while sitting on the bench, or batting, or running between wickets," he added.
Ahead of a long summer of cricket, India will start as favourites against a weakened Australian side that is missing Steve Smith and David Warner desperately. An appeal to reduce their bans was turned down by Cricket Australia on Tuesday morning.
Kohli said that he expected Australia to challenge on their home soil nevertheless.
"We all saw what happened. I don't know exactly what happened before those decisions were taken, but someone in Cricket Australia did make those decisions and honestly it is not my place to comment on it.
"Missing out on two of their best batsmen is not an ideal thing for any team. There is no denying the quality they have in their sides and still have world-class cricketers.
"This Australian team still has the quality to make an impact despite missing their two best batsmen. We will have to be at our best to beat Australia in Australia," he said.
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