Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli has slammed Australia's sledging, claiming that he had no reason to respect their pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson and insisting that the hosts' players called him a spoilt brat.
Kohli, who scored 169 on the third day of the third Test during which he and Johnson exchanged plenty of verbals, claimed that the Australians were calling him a spoilt brat, adding that he said, that maybe that's the way he is; they hate him, and he likes that.
Kohli said that it apparently worked in his favour, as the batsman has hit three centuries in the series but India are 2-0 down in the four-match series, the BBC reported. Kohli claimed that the sledging was going on throughout the day, adding that he likes playing against Australia because it is very hard for them to stay calm.
The batsman said that he doesn't mind an argument on the field, claiming that it really excites him and brings the best out of him so the Australians don't seem to be learning the lesson.
At one point during the third day, Johnson hit Kohli with the ball when throwing it at the stumps off his own bowling. Kohli said that he was really annoyed with Johnson hitting him with the ball, adding that he told the pacer that's not on and to 'try and hit' the stumps next time, not his body.
Kohli, who put on 262 with Ajinkya Rahane, hit Johnson for three successive fours in one over as he helped India to 462-8 in reply to Australia's first innings 530. Johnson did claim Kohli's wicket with the final ball of the day but ended up with figures of 1-133 from 29.2 overs.
Kohli said that he respects quite a few of them, but added that someone who does not respect him, he has got no reason to respect Johnson.
