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[Watch] ‘Isko Mein Itna Maarunga…’: Virat Kohli Recalls Mitchell Johnson Feud From BGT 2014

Virat Kohli and Mitchell Johnson during the 2014 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series (x.com)Virat Kohli and Mitchell Johnson during the 2014 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series (x.com)

Fiery competitor Virat Kohli recently recalled one of his earliest feuds with Australian thunderbolt Mitchell Johnson. The two cricketers were embroiled in a highly-competitive conflict back in December 2014 when Team India toured Australia for a four-match Test series.

During the first Indian innings of the first Test at the Adelaide Oval, Virat Kohli was struck on the helmet by a rising Mitchell Johnson delivery. As it turned out, the Indian middle-order shrugged off his early blow and converted it into an imperial century, scoring 115 runs out of India’s 444-run total.

Kohli makes audience laugh with fiery Johnson recall

During a recent event amidst the ongoing IPL 2024 season, Virat Kohli was asked to shed light on his 2014 Border-Gavaskar Trophy conflict with now-retired Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson.

Recalling the incident and his subsequent approach, Virat Kohli said that he was so rattled by the early jolt that he instantly decided to brandish his bat back at Mitchell Johnson in the rest of the series. The legendary Indian batter said:

“When I played the first ball of the first Test of the BGT 2014/15, Mitchell Johnson hit me on the head. And I wondered during the lunch break that how can he hit me in my head. I said 'Isko Mein itna Maarunga Naa iss series me (I'm going to smash him this whole series) and that's exactly what I did.”

It seems like Virat Kohli lived by his word considering he punched out scores of 115 and 141 in the Adelaide Test. Moreover, he finished the four-match series with a staggering haul of 692 runs to his name at an alluring average of 86.50.

However, despite the cricketer’s best batting efforts, Team India lost the series by a 0-2 margin. Nonetheless, Virat Kohli’s rebellious approach set up tone of India’s successive series wins ‘Down Under’ in subsequent tours of 2018-19 and 2020-21.

As of now, the legendary Indian batter is plying his trade for the RCB franchise in the IPL 2024 season.