Australia's best chance to keep Virat Kohli quiet in the upcoming ODI series would be to bowl aggressively to the India skipper, said Jason Gillespie.

More significantly, the former Australia pacer also warned Steve Smith's men to leave Kohli alone and not get into verbal battles with arguably the best limited-overs batsman in modern cricket.

Kohli loves feasting on Australian bowling attacks. He has so far amassed 1002 runs in 23 ODIs against them at an average of 55.6. Five of his 30 ODI hundreds have come against them, two of which were scored down under in 2016.

Kohli and Australia have had a history of verbal jousts on the field. There were several unsavoury moments during the Test series in Australia in 2014-15. The following year when James Faulkner tried to get under Kohli's skin the Indian run-machine restored with the now famous lines: "You're wasting your energy. There's no point, I've smashed you enough in my life. Just go and bowl."

Kohli was also a target of Australia's 'mental disintegration' in 2012 and he replied with his maiden Test hundred. On India's next Test tour down under, Kohli smashed four hundreds in four Tests including two in a thriller at the Adelaide Oval.

Gillespie, one of Australia's pack during their heydays, is now the coach of Papua New Guinea and feels the Aussies would do well not rile up Kohli, who thrives in pressure situations.

"Kohli is an amazing player. Once the field spreads, he can bat safely. I don't think Australia need to get into a verbal battle or get into staring competitions with Kohli," Gillespie told the Times of India. "The best way to put him under pressure is through disciplined bowling. I would like to see the Aussie quicks bowl bouncers throat-high to get him on the back foot, make him thinking about it.

"The follow-up ball remains the key. Make him come forward inviting the drive. If there is movement off the wicket or in the air, then the edge comes into play. Maybe they can bowl on the stumps with two catchers on the on-side. It's about getting him out of his comfort zone."

Kohli would want to make amends in the ODI series against Australia starting September 17 after managing only 46 runs from thee Tests against his fiercest rivals.

However, the Indian captain is in his elements again and is currently the leading run-scorer in ODIs this year.