Australia can lose all the respect for Virat Kohli, their own captain cheats

It was amusing to hear Ian Healy's comments on Virat Kohli as a gripping Test match unfolded in the southern part of India on the Deccan Plateau.

Healy, a former Australian wicketkeeper, is one of the best the game has seen. His glove work, standing up to Shane Warne, is a master class for generations of keepers.

Take it like Healy, they tell you at coaching camps across the world. So obviously, when Healy speaks, you listen.

Now what did Healy say? He said Virat Kohli was losing respect in his eyes because of his on-field antics. Indeed, the Indian captain led a bit of sledging charge against the Australians in a session of a Test match where emotions undoubtedly ran high.

Kohli was seen engaged in animated conversations with the opposition and apparently even reminded Matt Renshaw of a pending toilet break.

He even had a good laugh as Steve Smith and Ishant Sharma imitated each other with facial expressions that could have won them BAFTA nominations.

Fine, Kohli had also given it back to the Aussies as good as he got in the past. He responded with choicest words of his own and several hundreds. So what?

So Kohli loses respect in the eyes of the Australians — in the eyes of Ian Healy?

That's rich coming from a man who was not exactly popular for his sweet nature and winning personality among his rivals.

The current Indian skipper has succeeded an era which believed in not backing down if they tried to bully you on the field. And true to character, Kohli does not even mind stepping it up without any provocation.

Sledging and banter are now established facets of the game. Kohli is a fiery cricketer but off the field, he continues to command respect among his fellow citizens, peers and even the opposition. It was Kohli who congratulated Mohammad Amir on a splendid spell during the Asia Cup last year in a crucial match against Pakistan.

Let's just get that right, Ian Healy: Kohli does not need a character certificate from you. He is not only the best batsman in the world but also plays the game in the right spirit.

Now, let's have a look at the controversy the Australian captain was embroiled in during the same Test where Healy lost all respect for Kohli.

Steve Smith, wonder of wonders, turned to the dressing room for help with the DRS (after he was ruled out LBW off Umesh Yadav).

The rules stipulate clearly that the batsman must only consult his batting partner at the other end and seek no external help.

Kohli immediately rushed to the umpires, who intervened and asked Smith to walk off without further ado.

The Australian captain later said it was a brain fade and he should not have looked at the dressing room for suggestions on the impact.

His Indian counterpart pointed out it could not have been a brain fade as the Australians had sought dressing room help on referrals twice previously.

It was actually Peter Handscomb who asked Smith to turn around and look at the support staff, who certainly had access to state-of-the-art technology and instant TV replays.

Smith's predecessor, Michael Clarke, told India Today he was concerned that Handscomb would even suggest such a thing to the Australian captain.

"If you look at the footage, Peter Handscomb actually suggested Smith to turn around and look to the support staff. If this was a one-off, I don't think that would have happened. The fact that Handscomb even thought of asking the Australian skipper to turn around and look to the support staff, I've got my concerns," he said.

Kohli did not mince words in the post-match press conference either. He did not exactly mention the word "cheating", but his sharp comments prompted a journalist to ask if he had made the insinuation. Kohli's response was classic: "I did not use the word, you did."

The Australians, true to their nature, have targeted Kohli over his rare run of bad form and his aggression on the field.

It won't be long before Kohli bounces back with another special, but it will be long before Smith is once again viewed as a cricketer with integrity.