Kohli: 'We have ability to compete with any Test team'

With Steve Smith and David Warner missing out because of ball-tampering bans, many think this is the best chance for India on an Australia tour. But Virat Kohli shot down such ideas and said the team is "definitely not thinking about this being the last opportunity" to win Down Under.

India starts its tour of Australia with three Twenty20 Internationals, followed by four Tests and three One-day Internationals.

The Indian skipper is confident of his team's abilities and making an impact on the tour. "We are definitely not thinking about this being the last opportunity for us to win in Australia and we might not come here again and I don't think that is not the right kind of mindset to have. Whatever series we play, our aim is to win that series than win one or two games. I think we have the ability to compete with any team in Test cricket at par.

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"Our focus would be to cut down on our mistakes and we have identified those areas. Australia is always a big tour for any Indian side that come here and last time we played good cricket but were not able to win games and will look to change it," Kohli told reporters ahead of the first T20I in Brisbane on Wednesday.

On Tuesday morning, Cricket Australia declined to reconsider the sanctions on Smith, Warner and Cameron Bancroft. When asked, Kohli declined to make a comment.

Australia looks a vulnerable side and there has been a slump in the absence of its two top-class batsmen. But according to Kohli, Australia would still be a tough team to beat.

"It is something now in the past now (ball-tampering) and I don't want to speak about it again and again. The vulnerability depends on how the team plays on that particular day and Australia on their day still can upset any team.

"They still have quality in their side but missing out on two world-class batsmen is not an ideal thing for any team. You can never underestimate any side and we have come here to compete against Australia and not going to take anything for granted. Our focus as a team is to play quality cricket and win as many games," Kohli said.