Maxwell won't risk riling his mate Kohli

There's few members of Australia's current Test squad with a deeper knowledge of what makes India's red-hot skipper Virat Kohli tick than Glenn Maxwell.

And the Victorian allrounder is in no doubt as to whether it's wise to provoke the in-form India batter with verbal volleys in the hope that it might rile Kohli to the point that he loses focus and concentration, reports cricket.com.au

Former Test batter Michael Hussey has already cautioned Australia's players against baiting the famously volatile Kohli, for fear of firing him into action.

While current skipper Steve Smith told a media conference in Mumbai yesterday ahead of his team's four-Test Qantas Tour of India that any decision on whether to hurl barbs or banter at the opposition will rest with individual players.

If they feel it might deliver an advantage, then they are free to engage in on-field jousting provided it does not stray into Code of Conduct territory.

But Maxwell understands clearly which side of the line he stands in the Kohli debate.

"I'm probably not going to say anything to him, that's for sure," said Maxwell, who has been a regular rival to Kohli throughout their time in the Indian Premier League and in 21 international meetings across all formats.

"Virat is up and down, I suppose, with sledging.

"If you (strike) a chord with him, or something gets him agitated to play a big shot, then blokes are more than welcome to go for it.

"But at the moment, there's not much agitating him.

"I think Steve (Smith, Australia captain) said it perfectly in the press conference yesterday – the guys that want to get involved verbally, if that gets the best out of them then go for it."

Maxwell and Kohli share a close bond, as shown during last year's limited-overs series between Australia and India when the pair sat down for an extended, exclusive chat as part of one of Maxwell's regular blogs for cricket.com.au.