Kim Hughes believes the Australian players cannot be 'pussycats' while dealing with Virat Kohli

The aftereffects of the ball-tampering saga are still haunting the Australian team not just in terms of performance but their on-field behaviour as well. In the wake of the Newlands scandal, an independent review was carried out, according to which, it was the “victory at all costs” approach led to the infamous incident in South Africa. However, since then, the Australian team has gone quieter in terms of provoking their opposition and indulging in verbal duels.

Nonetheless, the former Australian captain, Kim Hughes believes that the Australian players cannot behave like “pussycats” while dealing with Virat Kohli. Hughes stated that there’s a fine line to be drawn, however, sees nothing wrong with exchanging a word or two with the Indian skipper.

“You’re not going to become pussycats. That’s not racially vilifying him at all or anything like that but just a good stare, or a couple of words, that’s the Australian way. Most blokes’ nicknames are usually when you stuff-up, not when you’ve had a glorious moment,” Hughes was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald

Indian captain vulnerable under pressure

For him, Kohli is the best player in the world and with over a billion Indians supporting him that also adds a lot of expectation.

“If he is not the best player of the world, he is the final two or three….I think he is the best player in the world. When you have 1.2 billion people in the world supporting you and expecting you to do well, there is a fair bit of pressure. He is the type of player that you would feel as an opposition that you could get under his skin.”

The 64-year old also mentioned that when under constant pressure, Kohli can be susceptible and that it might just do the trick for the Australian bowlers. He understands that when things are not going his way someone like the Indian captain becomes all the more vulnerable. 

The former Western Australia cricketer further said, “Kohli is vulnerable when put under pressure. Some are just unflappable, it doesn’t matter what happened to them, like a Clive Lloyd – nothing seemed to phase him. Where a Kohli, you just get the feeling, that if things didn’t go well, and you could keep the pressure on him, he might chuck the toys out of his cart.”

Get the latest Cricket News and updates from Australia vs India series, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.