Despite the fact that former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has not been playing in the current Australia-India Test, his presence has been felt by the fans in all the games. More often than not, he has taken too social media and analyzed the game and even ended up annoying the Indian fans, especially when it comes to the Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Johnson had his share of on-pitch clashes with Kohli in the past India series played Down Under and he hasn’t got rid of the competitive mindset for sure.
On Wednesday, Johnson posted on Twitter a picture and one among the fans likened the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where the crucial third Test of the series is being played, with the flat highway in Johnson’s post saying the latter would feel relieved to have retired for such surfaces would have only discouraged fast bowlers like him.
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To this, Johnson said India did well in winning the toss and batting first. He said the visitors will eye a score of 450 plus in the match, adding that Kohli’s men are in a good position to win the game but there are also chances of the game ending in a draw. He though hoped that his own prediction is proved wrong and Australia win the game. The series is currently tied at 1-1 and whoever wins this game will remain unbeatable in the four-match series.
Good toss to will for sure. India will look to post 450+, my feeling is Indian in best position to win but draw is also on the cards but I hope I’m proved wrong & Australia win
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 26, 2018
The thread that followed Johnson’s tweet also saw him engaging in banter with the Indian fans with some ridiculing his prediction for a possible draw asking him to wait till the Indian bowlers came out to bowl. He has been critical of Kohli in this series, particularly after the Indian skipper didn’t walk away after being caught very low in the slips in Perth, and that has earned him a backlash from an Indian fan.
Here is the backlash:
No excuses, I’m not playing. If he doesn’t score 💯 plus on this, he should retire 😁
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 26, 2018
India had a good start to the Melbourne Test with new openers Mayank Agarwal (76) and Hanuma Vihari (8) putting up a partnership of 40 runs before Cheteshwar Pujara came up with another hard-earned half-century. He was being accompanied by Kohli till stumps on Day 1 as the visitors are at the comfortable position of 215/2.
