Aussies expecting same 'verbal' Kohli

Aaron Finch is expecting exactly the same from Virat Kohli in terms of verbal aggression when Australia and India meet across three formats this summer … but that doesn't translate to sledging.

With Australia's newly-created players' pact and a culture revamp at Cricket Australia from the top down following the sandpaper scandal in March, the 's' word has been the hot topic in the lead-up to the Indians' arrival in Australia for three T20Is, four Tests and three ODIs, beginning with the shortest format on Wednesday night at the Gabba.

So it was little surprise that Kohli – so often the Australians' agent provocateur in the past – was bombarded with questions about the likelihood of an aggressive, confrontational summer against a team that has traditionally exhibited precisely those traits.

"Aggression depends on the situation on the field," Kohli said. "If the opposition are aggressive towards you, then you will counter it.

"We are a team that doesn't start anything. We draw our own self-respect line and if we feel anyone crosses that line, we stand up for it."

Finch will lead Australia in their first encounter against India since the Cape Town scandal, and said he didn't foresee any changes in Kohli's on-field manner, which has at times rubbed the Australians the wrong way.

"Virat plays the game that gets the best out of himself, and I think that at times, for him that's about being verbal for his team, and pumping them up and being right in the contest," the 32-year-old said.

"So the verbal won't change whatsoever – I think what (Kohli) was referring to was his aggression, but 'verbal' is encouragement for teammates. It's not abuse or anything like that."

The Indian has had a litany of run-ins with Australia's players – and even crowds – stretching back to his first Test tour here in 2011-12, but before flying out, the world's top-ranked Test batsman said he was "very happy within my own space" and no longer felt the need to seek out confrontations on the field to get the best out of himself.

"When it comes to getting engaged in an argument on the field, or in a fight as people want to call it excitedly, I have been completely OK playing without an altercation," he said.

"On a personal level, I don't find the need to go and find these things anymore. I have enough belief in my ability, I can play without a reason to pump myself up.

"Those were very immature things that I used to feed on in my early days of my career, so that I can get pumped."

In Brisbane, Kohli added to his definition of 'aggression', explaining the way in which it is used by his squad to motivate and improve.

"Another meaning of aggression is within the team," he said. "So how much effort you take for a wicket, how long can a bowler bowl in one particular spot, batsmen aggression in their body language.

"For me, aggression is the passion for winning."

It was a characteristic Finch has picked up on in his opposing skipper, and one he feels will continue to spur Kohli on as he launches into another chapter with Australia, an at-times bitter and always competitive rival that has regularly brought out the best in the brilliant Indian.

"You see how passionate he is about the game, and it's not just when he plays for India, it's when he plays for anyone, he's the same," Finch added.

"So in terms of verbal, it's not going to change at all – it'll be still fierce and he'll have a presence, no doubt.

"But whether it's banter or a bit of sledging here or there, I don't expect that."

Gillette T20s v India

Gillette T20s v South Africa 

Gillette T20s v India

November 21: The Gabba

November 23: MCG

November 25: SCG

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

India T20 squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed.