Smith doesn't mind facing an angry Kohli

AUSTRALIA'S TOUR OF INDIA, 2017
Smith doesn't mind facing an angry Kohli
by Cricbuzz Staff •
Last updated on Mon, 26 Dec, 2016, 08:18 PM

Smith said his team will try and get Kohli out of his comfort zone in the four-Test series in February.

With England coming up with an abject display in the five-Test series against India, losing 0-4 to the hosts, Australia are bound to prepare a little bit extra for what is going to be a tough tour. Steve Smith and his men will travel to India to play four Tests starting from February 23.

While preparing and adjusting to the Indian conditions is going to be key, the second step will be to prepare plans for individuals in the Indian team. The first one on the Australian radar, as expected, is Virat Kohli. Smith, speaking to ABC Grandstand, acknowledged that they'll try to get the India Test captain out of his comfort zone.

"He is a world-class player and he has, obviously, led the Indian team incredibly well over the last 18 months or so," Smith stated on Monday (Decemeber 26). "They have won a lot of games in that time and I think they have played a lot of cricket at home in that time as well. I think he has improved a lot body language-wise.

"He is a very emotional character out on the field, but I think he has improved a lot there. I guess for us as a team it's trying to get him out of the strong emotional state and try and make him, I guess, a little bit angry and ruffle his feathers and things like that. I think if you can get him in that state then the Indian team can possibly be a little bit vulnerable."

India have stretched their unbeaten streak to 18 Tests and have also consolidated their position as the top Test side in the ICC rankings. Needless to say, Australia will face a stern test but Smith felt this is also an opportunity for his team to prove their mettle.

"We go there in February and, no doubt, it's going to be an incredibly difficult tour - going to India always is," he pointed out. "Four Tests there, it's a great opportunity for this team, where we are going to be the underdogs going there.

"It would be fantastic to win a series there and we are going to have to make sure our processes are in order and we play a lot better than we have done in sub-continent conditions."

© Cricbuzz

That's how psychological game is played, they try to enter the opponents head in order to make them play out of their game. I don't know if appealing to Kohli's emotion might backfire on Smith or not, only time can tell.