Paine backs quicks to trouble Kohli

Captain Tim Paine has urged his fast bowlers to not get "too emotional" in their battle with Indian skipper Virat Kohli this summer, saying his star quicks can challenge the world's top-ranked Test batsman on skill alone.

The famously combative Kohli has declared he won't be looking for any fights over the coming weeks in what will be India's first Test clash with Australia since a tempestuous Border-Gavaskar series last year.

The Indian superstar's two previous Test tours of Australia have been marked by five magnificent centuries – including three in Adelaide, the venue for the first Test – and a willingness to take on the hosts verbally as well as with bat in hand.

Paine concedes his gun pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are likely to get hot under the collar at times during the series, but he's confident they can get the better of Kohli without getting dragged into a verbal confrontation.

"I think our fast bowling attack … if they play purely on skill, they're going to trouble him," Paine told cricket.com.au.

"At times when we get too emotional, we can lose our way a little bit. So it's a really fine line.

"There's going to be times when they're going to get a bit fiery, I'm sure. But we need to be mindful of keeping ourselves calm enough so we can execute our skills as well."