Johnson holds no fear for us: Dhawan

Australia pace ace Mitchell Johnson holds no fears for explosive Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan, who has pledged to fight fire with fire in the looming Commonwealth Bank Test series.

Dhawan has promised to attack Australia's fast-bowling trump card in their pivotal duel starting in the first Test in Adelaide from Tuesday.

"I feel that you need an aggressive opener in today's cricket which can turn things around," Dhawan told reporters in Adelaide.

"So that will be a very good thing for us. And I would love to play that role."

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While respectful of Johnson, Dhawan, who lives in Melbourne with his Australian-born wife, said there was "no fear factor" in confronting the International Cricketer of the Year.

"Of course he's one of the best bowlers in the world," he said.

"He has got really good pace and we have prepared for that pace.

"I have faced him lots of times back in India but I will be facing him for the first time in Australia so it's going to be a good challenge and I'm going to enjoy the challenge."

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Dhawan (left) and Vijay during their warm-up match against a CA XI // Getty Images

Dhawan has played just one Test innings against Australia – when he blasted 187 on debut in Mohali in March last year.

The left-hander cracked 33 fours and two sixes in that knock but has passed 50 in just two other Test innings from nine matches since.

Dhawan's returns have dwindled away from India, and the left-hander averaged only 20.33 on the recent tour of England, prompting pundits to question his ability to flourish on lively pitches.

"That is their thinking and their point of view," he said.

"I am always open for change for the betterment of my game ... like in England, I couldn't score much runs so that was a good learning curve for me.

"And it made me a better player. I always finds lots of positives in my failures too."

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Dhawan’s lean record away from India is mirrored in his opening partnerships with Murali Vijay.

The pair has been unable to perform away from home – their highest partnership is just 49 from 14 innings outside of India.

"We haven't done it, (but that) doesn't mean that we cannot do it," Dhawan said.

Vijay meanwhile, said improving their returns would be vital in the four-Test series.

"We are really confident in each other's game," he told reporters.

"Both the teams are going to be hoping on the starts because of the conditions and the wickets – whichever team gets a better start is going to be having an advantage."