“I reckon that can backfire, particularly on Kohli,” he said.

“If I was the Aussies, I’d be staying pretty quiet [and] just hitting a wide length around off stump and seeing if they can keep him under wraps by nicking balls. He has been doing this of late.

“I wouldn’t be saying too much to Virat.

Taylor said the Indian superstar knew he and his side were under some pressure but reminded the Aussies they were facing a “great fighter and a great player”.

“He loves that combativeness of Test match cricket and that’s why he loves playing against the Aussies,” the former captain said.

“I remember interviewing him 10 years ago when he came over. He was really looking forward to the series and having the Australians in his face — bowling quick, bowling bouncers. He seems to thrive on that.

“That’s going to be one of the great contests of this series.”

Kohli has been stuck in a lean period for the past five years.

Between 2011 and 2019, the former No.1-ranked batter carved out 7202 runs, including 27 centuries, at an average of 54.97 from 84 Tests.

But since 2019, he has only amassed 1838 runs, including two tons, at an average of 31.68 from 34 Tests.

He has failed to score a Test century in an Indian win since 2019.

But Kohli has shown he can score runs Down Under.

“I always fear someone like Virat Kohli when they’re out of form because he’s just too good of a player for this sort of slump to continue,” Taylor said.

“He does love playing here, he does love pace and bounce on the ball so he enjoys our conditions and averages 54 against Australia.

“So, he’ll be up for it. There is no doubt.

“He’s been worried about his form, he’s been working really hard over here from all reports to try and get it right, so Australia need to keep him down.”

Probed for his prediction, Taylor was confident Australia could get the job done at home.

“I think Australia will win the series, I think they’re due to win this series,” he said.

“I’ll say something like 3-1 to Australia — although the first couple of Test matches are absolutely vital.

“India at the moment looks a little bit short of a gallop having lost that series in New Zealand and they have injury problems going into this first Test.

“So, Australia, if they can strike [in Perth] and then win in Adelaide, they might be hard to stop.”

India has held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2017 while Australia has not won a Test series against the side since 2015.

The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicks off at 1.20pm AEDT on Friday, November 22, in Perth.