We are equipped enough to tackle Mitchell Johnson: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli during India’s first training session in Australia

Ahead of the Test series against Australia, India’s stand-in skipper Virat Kohli has said that the team is completely equipped to handle the menace of Mitchell Johnson, who was recently named the ICC Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year in recognition of his outstanding achievements over the last 12 months.

"He's been bowling really well - everyone knows that. Credit to him for doing all that," Kohli said. "We are equipped enough to tackle him on these pacy and bouncy wickets. I don't see any good reason why we can't come up and put up a good fight.

"It's all about mentally being there. If you can visualise being in that battle and being on top, I think you're going to be able to go out there and execute it. I think the guys in our team have the ability to do it ... it's all about being mentally present."

With India due to play a two-day warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI starting tomorrow, Kohli added that the team is in good shape mentally to face the challenges that a tour of Australia inevitably presents.

"I think coming to Australia and playing, it's more about the mindset rather than getting used to the conditions, because pace and bounce is something which you can get used to. But unless you're mentally there, there's no point of any sort of practice," Kohli told reporters after arriving in Australia.

The 26-year-old has been handed over the reins for the first Test in Brisbane in the wake of regular captain MS Dhoni’s finger injury, and the Delhi lad, who was the captain during India U-19’s World Cup triumph in 2008, said that he has never really been weighed down by the additional responsibility of captaincy.

"I love leading the side, I love being captain, I love putting my first foot forward and putting in my [views] throughout the game. I don't see any issues on why I can't be up to the challenge.

"As long as the team backs me and puts in the performances we want, I think I'm going to look good at the end of the day."