Virat Kohli and Tim Paine went toe-to-toe late in the third day of play

Virat Kohli was at his animated best on a heated third day in Perth — and it finally became too much for Tim Paine, who shot back.

Having battled through the better part of eight days of intense Test cricket in relatively cordial fashion, captains Virat Kohli and Tim Paine clashed verbally as tensions bubbled over in Perth.

Kohli and teammates went up vociferously for a caught-behind appeal in the final over on day three of the second Test, desperate to dismiss Paine.

It was turned down and India had no interest in reviewing but stump microphones picked up Kohli having a dig at his counterpart.

“If he messes it up, it’s 2-0,” Kohli said, referencing the series lead he is so determined to take at Optus Stadium.

Paine replied “you’ve got to bat first, big head”.

Questions were raised if ‘big head’ were the actual words used by Paine as there was a slight muffle on the microphone.

No one in Australia uses the term "Big Head"

Not even Tim Paine.

— Dennis Not A Catch (@DennisCricket_) December 16, 2018

It was a reasonably tame exchange but things appeared to become more heated at the end of play, when Australia reached 4-132 to boast a 175-run lead.

Kohli and Paine continued to exchange tense words as they walked towards their respective dressing rooms.

“Tim just asked him where he was going for dinner,” Nathan Lyon laughed. “I’ve played enough cricket against Virat to know what he’s like. “Virat’s Virat.

“Virat Kohli is a great player. He plays on emotion.

“I’m not worried about what he’s doing or India’s doing.”

LANGER: IT’S WHITE NOISE

India’s players are getting a kick out of Kohli’s on-field antics, but Australian coach Justin Langer says it’s nothing more than white noise for his players.

Kohli was at his animated best earlier on Sunday, taking some digs at Australia’s batsmen as his bowlers delivered a series of bruising bouncers.

The Indian skipper even spent some time trying to pump up the crowd as the on-field tension rose dramatically.

Kohli has already played a key role in the match, scoring 123 in the first innings.

And with Australia holding a lead of 175 runs with six wickets in hand, India will need Kohli to produce the goods in the second-innings’ run chase as well. Kohli produced a chatter-mouth hand signal on Sunday on reaching his century. Indian paceman Jasprit Bumrah said even he didn’t know what the signal meant, but he loved his captain’s antics.

“He’s always very animated with his celebrations. It’s always very fun to watch when we’re in the dressing room,” Bumrah said.

The tense standoff.

Langer wasn’t so impressed, giving a curt answer when asked on SEN about Kohli’s antics.

“It is what it is. It’s more white noise for us,” Langer said.

Kohli was angry he was given out on Sunday, believing his edge might not have carried to Peter Handscomb at second slip.

Replays were inconclusive, with the umpires sticking to their original thinking that the ball had carried.

That incident might have played a part in Kohli being so animated in the field late in the day.

Australia are devising a plan to ensure Kohli doesn’t post a big score in the second dig.

“I won’t be giving too much away. We’ve still got two more Tests after this,” Australian paceman Mitchell Starc said on Cricket 360 when asked about Kohli. “I think it’s just about staying patient. There’s plenty of plays and missesover the time.

“He batted really well. He’s one of the best in the world for that reason. He can sustain and absorb pressure and get awayat times.

“For us, it’s about being patient, building pressure ... keep doing damage at the other end and make him keep playing his shots. You can get him out.”

— with AAP