Mitchell Johnson gives Virat Kohli a whack after Australia’s second Test win

[Nergal]

 

Former Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson has ripped into Virat Kohli, saying the Indian skipper was disrespectful and made to look silly during the recent Test match in Perth.

Kohli and Australia captain Tim Paine engaged in a heated battle throughout the Test at Perth Stadium, with the pair told to cool it by the umpires at one stage.

Paine had the last laugh after guiding Australia to a 146-run win, but the tensions are set to flood over into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

On Tuesday, both Paine and Kohli did their best to play down their rift, saying there were no verbal taunts that crossed the line.

The pair are set to be heavily scrutinised in the Boxing Day Test, and Johnson was quick to take a swipe at Kohli’s recent behaviour.

“At the end of the match you should be able to look each other in the eyes, shake hands and say ’great contest’,” Johnson wrote in his Fox Sports column.

“Virat Kohli could not do that with Tim Paine, shaking the Australian captain’s hand but barely making eye contact with him. To me, that is disrespectful.

“Kohli gets away with more than most cricketers simply because he is Virat Kohli and he gets placed on a pedestal but this Test left the Indian captain looking silly.