English pacer James Anderson has accused Virat Kohli of lying after the Indian captain stated that "it doesn't matter whether I get runs or don't get runs, what I want is the team to play well and the team to win."

The England pacer, who was a nightmare for Kohli the last time India visited England, stated that Kohli was lying when he said that because his runs are exceedingly important for India to win matches.

"It doesn't matter if he gets runs or not? I think he is telling lies there," Anderson told PTI in a chat conducted during the ODI series. "For India to win here, of course, it matters. Virat will be desperate to score runs for his team, as you would expect from the captain and one of the best players in the world."

He also added that the India captain is working hard to improve his game, which, in turn, will make the contest between him and the bowlers exciting.

"I am sure he is practicing hard at certain aspects of his game and that will make the battle between him and not just myself, but him and the rest of our bowlers, a really exciting one."

Finally, he praised Kohli for being a batsman against whom it is hard to bowl regardless of whether it is a white ball or the red one.

"You would think that the red ball swings more or does more off the seam but it doesn't work like that," Anderson said.

"When the players you mention, and not just Virat, they play the ball so late that they have got so much time and they make you feel slow as a bowler. It is hard with white or red ball.