If the Australians are thinking of engaging Virat Kohli in verbal volleys to fluster the Indian skipper's focus during the much-anticipated four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series next month, their attempts may end up being futile. For, Kohli made it clear yesterday that any sort of provocation will not have an effect on him.

Kohli came under fire after showing his middle finger to the crowd that had annoyed him during the 2012 Sydney Test. He nearly got slapped a ban for his gesture. Kohli, who was skipper during the last Australia tour in 2014-15 after MS Dhoni's abrupt retirement, smashed four centuries and a half century in the Test series despite the Aussies getting under his skin quite often. His verbal duel with the now-retired Mitchell Johnson and being labelled a "spoilt brat" worked in his favour as he smashed 692 runs in eight innings.