Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has taken a dig at Virat Kohli ahead of his country’s do-or-die clash against host India in 2016 World T20 at Mohali.
Johnson, who has retired from cricket, reminded cricket fans about how the Indian batting superstar "went missing" during last year's Cricket World Cup semi-final loss.
Kohli told reporters on Saturday he thrives in situations when opposition teams attempt to throw him off his game through sledging, in particular against Australia, saying "if anything, it motivates me more".
But Johnson questioned whether Kohli could stand the heat when the pressure was on after reading Kohli's words on Twitter.
"Love it!! Went missing in WC semi last yr when it really counts," Johnson tweeted.
Chasing Australia's imposing 7-328 at the SCG in the World Cup semi-final, Kohli was dismissed by Johnson for one.
However, Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson, who played with Johnson in the World Cup -semi-final said that it isn’t easy to unsettle Kohli.
"We’ve tried a few different things," Watson said. "It hasn't really worked.
"The silent treatment, we thought might work but he still just goes about his business and is able to churn out the runs. And we've also gone fairly hard at him as well, at times.
"I've only ever seen it effect for him about two balls, once (at the MCG in 2014), and I dropped him at slip.
"He knows his game incredibly well and whichever way we go we're just going to have to be at our best to try and get him out early.
"Because once he gets in he certainly knows how to put pressure on bowlers," he said.
