Umpires warn Kohli and Paine after tensions flare in second Test

Tim Paine is set to have the last laugh in his Perth stoush with Virat Kohli as Australia close in on a drought-breaking win in the second Test after a day of high tension.

Barring a miraculous escape by the world's No.1 side, Australia will on Tuesday claim a series-levelling victory that ensures the fight for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains alive heading into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Umpires were forced to intervene as the two captains came chest to chest and exchanged barbs in a dramatic escalation of their feud.

The Australian camp are barely containing their annoyance with the India skipper, who upped the ante in his goading of the home side on Monday.

Paine delivered a cutting sledge to the India captain via opener Murali Vijay during the visitors' run chase.

"I know he's your captain, but you can't seriously like him as a bloke," Paine was picked up saying on the stump mic.

Josh Hazlewood later declared Kohli was not the most important wicket in the Indian team but one of three key scalps.

"I probably see [Cheteshwar] Pujara as the big wicket when I'm bowling - he's the glue that holds them together," the vice-captain said. "He's batted the most balls this series and nearly scored the most runs. I see him as the big wicket and [Ajinkya] Rahane. The three, four, five are the big wickets. We see them as unstable in the other parts of the order."

Kohli had gestured his bat was doing the talking after completing his century on Sunday but he can now do nothing more than watch on after being dismissed by Nathan Lyon for 17.

Australia's greatest finger-spinner has now dismissed Kohli seven times in Test matches, which is more than any other bowler.

India were 5-112 at stumps on the fourth day in pursuit of 287 after their batsmen folded against Australia's vaunted attack on a pitch proving difficult for batting.

Australia have gone six Tests without a win, having not tasted success since the win in Durban over South Africa, while Paine has not led his team to victory in the baggy green.

Kohli and Paine and were spoken to by umpires Chris Gaffaney and Kumar Dharmasena respectively after the players had come into contact while the Australian was completing a run.

Kohli had rushed in from mid-off to come provocatively close to Paine though it's unclear if the Australian had deviated in his line to ensure a confrontation.

An irate Paine was heard on stump mics telling Kohli "you're the one that lost it yesterday, now you're trying to be cool today".

Gaffaney intervened, warning the pair "that's enough".

"Play the game," the New Zealand umpire said. "You guys are the captains. Tim, you're the captain."

Paine then gave Kohli a parting shot, advising him to "keep your cool Virat," which drew a smile from his opposing number.

The two were involved in a spat the night before when Kohli said within earshot of the Australian captain it would be 2-0 "if he messes it up". Paine replied by reminding Kohli "you've got to bat first, big head".

Former Test captain Ricky Ponting was critical of Gaffaney stepping in.

"We're allowed to have a conversation," Ponting said on Channel Seven. "There's been no swearing, no aggression."

The incident comes as Australia attempt to clean up their on-field conduct in the wake of the ball tampering controversy in South Africa.

There is a feeling within the Australian camp that double standards are being applied when it comes to Kohli's on-field behaviour, with coach Justin Langer saying during the first Test his team would be labelled the "worst blokes in the world" if they had conducted themselves that way.

Clash: Virat Kohli and Tim Paine exchange words.Credit: AAP

Lyon claimed the prized wicket of Kohli, bringing the star batsman forward with a delivery that went straight on and found his outside edge.

They landed another huge blow nearing stumps when Rahane slashed Hazlewood to point, where Travis Head held on to a hot chance looking into the sun.

Earlier, Khawaja played his best innings of the series, making 72 as Australia batted themselves into an imposing position. The Test No.3 had made only 41 runs in his previous three innings but found a way to succeed on a difficult track for batting.