Virat Kohli is frustrated because he hasn't scored a run in this series, says Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson was a fiery customer to deal with in his playing days. He was one of the world’s most lethal and aggressive bowlers. The former Australian cricketer had a lot to talk about the Indian skipper Virat Kohli. While the foreign newspapers are making the most of Virat’s slump in form, Johnson also grabbed the opportunity to comment on the same.

The 35-year-old thinks that the Delhi-lad has gone out of sorts because he has not scored a run in this Test series. Johnson said, “He’s obviously quite passionate, but I just think he’s frustrated because he hasn’t scored a run and he’s letting his emotions get the better of him. You could sense the vibe change halfway through the match and it coincided with India getting ahead in the game.”

The former Australian pacer also commented on the 28-year-old’s wicket celebrations. He claimed that he has to be careful about the same. “Obviously whenever there’s a wicket the cameras go straight to Kohli to see his reaction – they know they’re going to get those kind of reactions from him. And they did! He was giving a send-off to just about every player, which you’ve got to be very careful with,” said Johnson as per the quotes on India Today.

The rivalry between Virat and Mitchell goes a long way back. It was India’s tour of Australia in 2014-15 when the current Indian skipper smacked the Australians all over the ground. There was an incident which Johnson recalls. He thinks since that day the rivalry between him and the Indian got really bitter.

“To be honest, I think it was every time we played. He hasn’t had any time for me since the Boxing Day Test in 2014 when he finished the day saying he had no respect for me. The moment that changed everything was when he blocked a ball back to me and I threw it back at the stumps,” Johnson recalled.

Johnson continued further, he said “The only problem was that Virat was in the way. He got hit in the back and I apologized straight away because it was a complete accident, but that message didn’t seem to get through. There were plenty of verbals after that and he hasn’t really stopped since.”

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However, now retired Mitchell Johnson feels at home watching the current Test series which is not short of drama. The veteran fast bowler says that Virat’s reminds him of himself in his playing days.

Johnson said, “I felt completely at home watching the action as Australia and India went toe-to-toe in the second Test because of one man: Virat Kohli. Virat was in the thick of everything. He was pumping up the crowd, giving every Australian player a send-off and generally being fired up. It reminded me very much of my playing days.”