Mitchell Johnson Reflects on His Personal Rivalry with Virat Kohli and Their Iconic 2014/15 Face-Off
Mitchell Johnson, the former Australia cricketer who hung up his boots from international cricket nine years ago, has opened up about the infamous personal rivalry he shared with former India captain Virat Kohli. This rivalry, well-documented in the cricketing world, became one of the most talked-about aspects of their careers, particularly in the context of the 2014/15 series between Australia and India.
Ahead of what could potentially be his last tour of Australia, Johnson reflected on the intense and sometimes heated exchanges between the two players, recalling a particularly memorable confrontation during the Boxing Day Test of 2014. Speaking in his column for The West Australian, Johnson shared his thoughts on the on-field tensions that defined much of his interactions with Kohli, describing them as a natural outcome of their shared, aggressive style of play.
A Competitive Rivalry Built on Shared Aggression
Johnson acknowledged that his rivalry with Kohli was not just a one-sided affair, but rather an intense contest where both cricketers exhibited a similar level of passion, drive, and competitive spirit. Despite the tension, Johnson emphasized that he appreciated Kohli’s approach to the game, which mirrored his own—aggressive, fearless, and always looking to take the game to the opposition. “We probably played the game in a similar way—taking the game on and not backing down,” Johnson wrote.
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He admitted that while many cricketers prefer a quieter, more composed approach to the game, where there is less interaction with the opposition, he enjoyed the emotional battles. For him, a large part of the fun came from engaging in verbal exchanges with opponents and maintaining a relentless focus on getting the better of them. “Some don’t like that style of cricket and prefer there’s no chat with the opposition, but I enjoyed that part of the game. I would become frustrated during some of our battles, but I also enjoyed that he kept coming at me,” Johnson recalled.
The fast bowler revealed that, while there was always a sense of frustration when things didn’t go his way, there was also satisfaction in competing against a player of Kohli’s caliber. Whether it was the satisfaction of getting him out or the irritation of being hit for a boundary, Johnson noted that these interactions were a testament to Kohli’s prowess on the field.
The Boxing Day Test of 2014: A Defining Moment in Their Rivalry
For Johnson, the rivalry took a particularly heated turn during the Boxing Day Test in 2014, a match that remains etched in the minds of both players and fans alike. The Test, played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), featured a crucial moment when Johnson attempted to run out Kohli by throwing the ball towards the stumps while Kohli was mid-stride. The throw struck Kohli on the body, which incensed the Indian batsman. Kohli did not hold back in expressing his displeasure, and in the aftermath, he made public comments suggesting that he had no respect for Johnson as a player.
Johnson, though acknowledging that the attempt was legitimate, admitted that Kohli’s remarks stung. “Most of our differences stemmed from the Boxing Day Test in 2014, when a ball I threw hit him on the body. I was legitimately trying to run him out but he didn’t like what I did. He made some comments in the media that night about having no respect for me as a player, which annoyed me,” Johnson reflected.
While these comments annoyed him, Johnson confessed that they were part and parcel of the intense nature of their rivalry. His strategy, whenever Kohli came out to bat, was to get under his skin and frustrate him early. The idea was simple—distract Kohli from his usual rhythm, rattle his focus, and force him into playing rash shots. “The goal from our point of view was generally to get Kohli riled up as soon as he came out to bat and take his focus away from his skills,” Johnson wrote.
Although Johnson’s strategy had a brief moment of success when he got Kohli to play an early shot, luck was not on his side. Kohli was dropped when he had scored only a few runs, and from that point on, the Indian batsman made the Australians pay. Kohli went on to score a brilliant 169 runs, helping India secure a draw in the match.
A Game of Missed Opportunities and Unstoppable Skills
Johnson vividly recalled the key moments of that innings, particularly the one where he felt they had Kohli on the ropes. “In that Test match at the MCG, we got him off guard early and had him playing at a ball he didn’t need to in frustration, and unfortunately, we dropped him on not many. He then focussed and harnessed his energy and piled on the runs – all 169 of them,” Johnson said, acknowledging that, despite the early breakthrough, the Australian team was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
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From that moment onward, Kohli’s confidence surged, and he proved why he is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world. Johnson shared that, while bowling to Kohli, the pressure was immense. “When bowling to him, I can remember thinking we had to get him early or else we could be in trouble,” he confessed. The Australian bowler also admired Kohli’s batting technique, describing the Indian captain’s cover drives, pull shots, and quick running between wickets as exemplary. “One of the best players in the world playing me with so much time, I think I even said ‘good shot’ in my head a few times after being driven down the ground,” Johnson admitted.
The Enduring Rivalry: Respect Behind the Aggression
In the years since that famous series, the rivalry between Johnson and Kohli has simmered down, with both players moving on to different stages in their careers. Johnson has since retired from international cricket, while Kohli has continued to remain at the pinnacle of world cricket. Despite their heated exchanges, Johnson spoke with respect for Kohli’s abilities, acknowledging that the Indian star had the skill and temperament to be one of the finest players to grace the game.
While their rivalry might have been intense and, at times, contentious, it is a testament to the competitive spirit that defines great cricketers. Johnson’s reflections offer a glimpse into the mindset of two players locked in a battle for supremacy, each pushing the other to their limits. The legacy of their rivalry remains an iconic part of cricket history, a reminder of the passion and intensity that can exist between two of the game’s greatest competitors.
