Taking challenges head-on and marching ahead is all about the “new India” of which he’s a representative, Virat Kohli asserted as Team India gear up for the first Test versus Australia beginning in Adelaide on Thursday.

“For me, it’s how we have started to stand up as the Indian cricket team. And my personality has always been this way from Day One.

“This for me is a representation of the new India where we want to take on challenges and move forward with optimism and positivity, and make sure we are up and ready for anything that comes our way,” the India captain said on match eve.

Though there will be a bit of banter and emotions on the field, Kohli maintained that the quality of cricket in the series has to be upheld.

“We should not compromise on the quality of the cricket. Banter is going to go on here and there all the time.

“That is the highest level of cricket we play and it’s going to be very competitive. There’s going to be tension, stress with emotions flaring every now and then, but I don’t foresee anything getting personal anymore.

“I think all of us are getting smarter and are a few more years into our careers. So we are going to make better and smarter choices,” he stressed.

“There are going to be moments when things will get difficult and teams are going to stand up against each other, but not in a disrespectful way is what I meant. Appreciation for someone’s performance or someone’s grit and character comes at the end of five days is what I believe.”