An irate Virat Kohli accused Australia of repeatedly overstepping the mark Tuesday after India stunned the visitors by 75 runs in an ill-tempered second Test to level the series 1-1.
The Indian captain was furious at opposite number Steve Smith for seeking guidance from the dressing room over his dismissal, something the rules forbid, during a thrilling encounter in Bangalore.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed six wickets -- becoming the fastest the reach a 25th five-wicket haul in an innings in Test cricket -- as Australia, needing 188 for victory, collapsed to just 112 half-an-hour into the final session on day four after tempers frayed between the world's top two sides.
The umpires had to cool the players down after Kohli was enraged by Smith looking over to his backroom staff as he decided whether or not to go for a review after being ruled out lbw off Umesh Yadav.
"We take our decisions on the field ourselves. We don't ask for confirmation from upstairs," fumed Kohli. "I saw that happening two times when I was batting out there. I pointed that out to the umpire as well that I have seen their players looking upstairs for confirmation.
"And that's why the umpire was at him. When he turned back the umpire knew exactly what was going on. We observed that, we told match referee and the umpire that it's been happening for the last three days and it has to stop," the Indian captain continued.
"There is a line that you don't cross on a cricket field. Sledging and playing on the opponent's mind is different but I don't want to mention the word but it falls in that bracket. I would never do something like that on the cricket field," Kohli added.
Asked if that word was "cheating", Kohli replied: "I didn't say that you did".
Smith admitted to the mistake but insisted it had been a one-off.
SCORES IN BRIEF
INDIA: First innings 189
AUSTRALIA: First innings 276
INDIA: Second innings 274 (Rahul 51, Pujara 92, Rahane 52; Hazlewood 6-67, O'Keefe 2-36)
AUSTRALIA: Second innings 112 (Smith 28, Handscomb 24; Ashwin 6-41, Yadav 2-30)
Result: India won by 75 runs and level four-match series 1-1.
Player-of-the-match: L Rahul.