Australia skipper Tim Paine believes his pace unit can greatly trouble India counterpart Virat Kohli if they keep their emotions in check in the upcoming four-match Test series between the two sides.

The hosts boast an impressive fast-bowling armoury which includes the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The trio will have their work cut out against the Indian skipper though who comes into the series as the undisputed No1 batsman in the format.

But Paine believes that his pacers can get Kohli’s number in the series through sheer skill.

“I think our fast bowling attack, if they play purely on skill, they’re going to trouble him,” the Australia skipper 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.”

Ahead of the hotly anticipated battle between the two sides, Kohli had sought to downplay his fiery and aggressive nature on the cricket pitch.

The India skipper has stressed that he intends to focus more on the cricket and less on the sledging in the four matches despite having been involved in a few confrontations with Aussie players on previous tours.

A marked man: Virat Kohli.

Paine, however, said that Australia’s approach towards Kohli in the series will depend very much on the heat of the situation.

“He’s certainly someone who, from what I’ve seen, enjoys getting into that sort of stuff,” Paine said of his India counterpart.

“We’ll just play it by ear; if there’s a time when we think we need to have a word with him, I’m sure we will. If there’s other times when we feel like we’re bowling well against him and are troubling him, then you don’t have to do it.

“It’s just about picking your time and picking your moment and doing what the team requires.”

The first Test between the two sides will get underway at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.