India’s stand-in captain Virat Kohli believes going with his “gut feeling” will be key to his side’s chances of success in the first Test with Australia.

The teams are set to begin their four-Test series in Adelaide on Tuesday and it is sure to be an emotional day all round as it will mark the first time the Aussies will have taken to the field since the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.

Kohli, who is 1.85 to be the first innings’ top scorer, has been named as India skipper for the match as MS Dhoni is still unavailable due to a hand injury, and so will be looking to transform his nation’s fortunes, with India winning just one of their last 19 away Tests.

This is a fact reflected in the series betting, with Australia 1.25 to take the honours, while both India and the draw are priced at 6.50.

After a woeful few months in which he has scored just 134 in his last 10 Tests innings, the 26-year-old is under pressure to perform but rather than get distracted by his doubters, the flamboyant batsman believes going with his instincts will be key to his side’s chances.

“I am personally going to go with whatever my gut feel is,” Kohli told reporters. “Whatever I feel. I am going to set fields according to that.

“It might look funny, but as long as it’s effective. But the intent is going to be aggressive. That’s something that I’ve played my cricket with, and it’s certainly something that I am going to use in my captaincy as well.”