India vs Australia: Mark Taylor finds Virat Kohli’s off-field conduct ‘terrific’ but gives thumbs down to confrontation with Tim Paine

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor has lauded Virat Kohli’s off-the-field conduct in one of their encounters but felt that the Indian captain’s “confrontational” approach on the field was something “the game does not need”.

Taylor, one of Australia’s most successful captains who later became a commentator, cited one instance of Kohli’s courteous behaviour when he wanted to interview him.

“Four years ago when (Channel) Nine still had the cricket, I was interviewing Virat Kohli when I learned a lot about his character. It was not anything he said but the manner in which he conducted himself,” Taylor said.

“We were filming in a studio at Adelaide Oval the day before the Test when the national anthems blared out on the loudspeakers, as part of rehearsals for the following day, forcing us to take a break. When the anthems stopped after some 10 minutes, the India media manager told me my half-hour was up and gestured for Kohli to leave.