Virat Kohli is Chilled Out, With MS Dhoni, it's a Bit Serious: Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav finds Virat Kohli friendlier than Mahendra Singh Dhoni because the dashing Delhi batsman "belongs to the same age-group as the rest of the team." Kohli recently led India to a 5-0 sweep over Sri Lanka in a ODI series. He will lead India in the first Test versus Australia in Brisbane from December in the absence of an injured Dhoni. (Kohli, Pujara Hit Fifties in Drawn Game)

Dhoni, 33, is now the elder statesman of Team India. He had made his international debut 10 years back in 2004 when the likes of Umesh, Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were still in their early teens. Kohli, all of 26, is the 'new' leader and the team loves him for his attitude. (Clarke Ruled out of First Test vs India: Reports)

"It's definitely a different atmosphere under Virat. He's like one of the guys. Being of the same age group helps and talking to him, discussing your problems becomes really easy," Umesh told starsports.com.

"Don't get me wrong. Dhoni bhai also keeps a very open channel for dialogue, but since he is such a senior player we are always a bit reserved around him. With Kohli it seems chilled out. You can be frank about stuff."

One of the most endearing aspects about Kohli's captaincy so far has been his aggression. The fighting attitude has rubbed off on the rest of the squad and the results were visible against the Sri Lankans. He commanded the team's respect by leading from the front.

Kohli has also made the right noises Down Under, challenging Australia in their own den before asserting that his batsmen were ready for the fiery pace of Mitchell Johnson. Kohli's look-in-the-eye attitude is lifting Umesh's morale.

"He is an aggressive player and it does change you. You try and emulate the way your captain plays and that's why you have seen a rise in aggression in our playing style. It's been a fun series. It's a positive atmosphere and that is what you want when facing a team like Australia," adds Umesh.

However, Umesh won't let all this talk of aggression let him get carried away. The 27-year-old from Nagpur says his focus will on control and containment and not just raw pace. Umesh has often been indirectly slammed by Dhoni for his "brainless" bowling. (Kohli Says Off-Field Issues Won't Affect Team India Down Under)

"I'm not looking to bowl super-fast - I know people expect me to hit the 150k mark, something I did the last time I went to Australia - but bowling more controlled. I'll be happy hitting 140 to 145 kmph if my bowling line is good and I don't leak too many runs. I'll be aggressive but not wayward.

"It took a while for my mind-set to change. I went back to my coaches and other mentors and worked on my control. Australia is a place where you have to bang it in because you get pace and bounce, but I also want to get my swing in control," he said.