Kohli needs to mature: Waugh

India's new Test captain Virat Kohli needs to "develop a thick skin" and "mature", according to the assessment of Australia legend Steve Waugh.

Famous for his imperturbable manner and ice-cool temperament, the architect behind the art of mental disintegration says Kohli needs to chill and take a leaf out of one-day skipper MS Dhoni's book, and fast.

"Kohli has to mature. He had a few issues this World Cup. He gets a bit too animated, bit too emotional, bit too personal on some issues," Waugh observed.

"As a captain you have got to develop a thick skin and Dhoni has that, nothing gets through him.

"So he would be a good role model for Kohli. He has to be his own man but also take a bit of what Dhoni has.

"Dhoni has never been bothered about what people say. The external things don't influence him. He just keeps it simple, goes about his job in the best that he can do on the field."Image Id: ~/media/EA01D27ACDC448A5AFF4692D48E3C120

Steve Waugh was the picture of calmness throughout his 168-Test career // Getty Images

Waugh added that Kohli's obvious passion was an asset but needed to be smarter about his approach to the game.

"I like Kohli's passion. [However] you can't be there starting every fight when he is a captain," Waugh told PTI.

"He has to pull it back. He doesn't have to lose that passion but just have to be a little smarter in the way he does things."

Kohli is no stranger to heated outbursts, on and off the field. Ahead of the IPL he lashed out after being the subject of stinging criticism following India's World Cup semi-final exit at the hands to Australia, where the star batsman made just one.

"After that, to see such reactions after just one poor innings, was very disappointing," Kohli said.

"I had been consistent for the last five years and to see such reactions for just one match was really disappointing.

"At a human level, I would say I was hurt. And the people that said things and the way they were said, they should be ashamed of themselves."

During the tournament, Kohli was caught up in another controversy when he abused a travelling Indian journalist in Perth for a perceived slight after an article on his partner, the Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma.

Kohli was forced to apologise, and the BCCI was moved to issue a rare public statement. To add to the embarrassment, Kohli had directed his ire at the wrong journalist in a case of mistaken identity.

A day after Shane Watson said Steve Smith had earned the right to be on the pedestal along AB de Villiers and Kohli, Waugh agreed but noted the vast gulf in their approaches.

Smith was Australia's Test captain for three matches last summer after Michael Clarke had hamstring surgery, and stood opposite Kohli in the Sydney Test following Dhoni's shock retirement after the Boxing Day draw.

"They are different personalities, poles apart," Waugh said. "One who has his emotions in check, while the other shows his emotions all the time.

"Both are great players, Kohli probably has the best technique and may be Smith has (the) best temperament.

"Both are exceptional talents and they are going to score lot of runs and be leaders for a long time. But there are many things to work on for sure."