Ahead of India’s tour to Australia, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said on Thursday his team would not to go out looking for trouble in Down Under, but if the Australians were aggressive in their approach, the Indian team would “give it back” to them.

India’s much-awaited tour to Down Under will start on 21st November with a three-match T20I series followed by a Test and an ODI series.

“When it comes to getting engaged in an argument on the field, I have been completely okay playing without an altercation. I have enough belief in my abilities.. those were very immature things I used to feed on when I was younger,” Kohli said at India’s pre-departure press conference in Mumbai, before adding, “Now being captain of the team, you do not have time to think of anything else apart from what the team needs.”

The 30-year-old Indian captain even claimed his side never started a sledging game and his players only fought back when they were provoked.

“We were always the ones giving it back. As long as it does not start, we will not go out looking for anything but we will reciprocate,” Virat Kohli added.

“I know from the management point of view, things are explained of what the team needs. As long as it does not start, we are okay with it. In our own minds, we have to be competitive and not let our focus drop.”

With two back-to-back overseas Test series defeat by South Africa and England earlier this year, this is Virat Kohli’s last chance to prove that his team is capable of defeating best teams in their own backyard. Speaking about his boys’ fitness, Virat Kohli said he was satisfied.

“I definitely believe our fitness levels are up: which is the most important thing in Australia because pitches can sometimes become very boring there,” said Kohli.

Virat Kohli also heaped praises on the Indian bowlers.

“We are always feeling good about the fact that we have a good bowling attack but our batsmen have to step up as well. That is something we spoke about after the England tour. Our focus will be more on how the batsmen bat together. Our bowlers are in the space and after a long time, we will we can pick 20 wickets in a game,” Virat Kohli concluded.