Johnson strikes back against India at MCG

Mitchell Johnson has exacted a small amount of revenge against India at the MCG, striking early on day four to end the tourists’ first innings at the MCG.

Johnson, who yesterday had Virat Kohli blowing him kisses in the Boxing Day Test, claimed wickets in each of his first two overs to halt India’s charge at 465 runs, 65 runs short of Australia’s first innings total of 530 runs.

Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane went hard at Johnson on day three in their 262-run partnership, a Test record for the fourth wicket at the MCG.

While Johnson had his moments, especially with the second new ball, Australia's top strike bowler conceded 0-116 from 25 overs.

He dismissed Kohli with the last ball of day three, giving him 1-133 from 29.2 overs.

Late in the day, Kohli smacked Johnson back over his head for four and blew him kisses.

Kohli was similarly combative in his media conference after the day's play, making it clear he has no respect for Johnson.

Kohli made 169 and Rahane scored 147 - their highest Test scores.

"I just backed myself," Kohli said when asked about Johnson.

"His job is bowl and get wickets and he was going at 4.7 an over today.

"He didn't get a wicket throughout the day and I knew - I back myself that I can take him on, even if I keep talking to him."

Kohli said he was angry when, in the third over after the new ball was taken, Johnson tried to throw the ball at the stumps and hit him instead.

A few deliveries later, the Indian edged a ball through slips for four and the pair argued.

"I was really annoyed with him hitting me with the ball and I told him that's not on - try to hit the stumps next time, not my body," Kohli said.

"I'm not going out there to take unnecessary words or chat from someone."

In Johnson's next over, Shane Watson dropped Kohli when he was on 88.

Kohli made sure he backed up their ongoing verbal stoush with action.

"That's important - you can't back off after saying a few words and then not show it with your skill," he said.

"So I decided when he comes onto bowl, I'm going to back myself and take him on as well.

"I don't mind giving a word back and neither does he.

"So it kept going on."

Johnson arguably hasn't had such a long day in the field since 2010, when he leaked 0-104 from 27 overs in the second dig against England in Brisbane.

The express paceman was dropped for the following Test at Adelaide Oval, but bounced back with nine scalps in Perth.

Johnson suffered a severe toe injury the following year and fell out of love with the game, but rediscovered his blistering best in the 2013-14 Ashes.

Australia only need a draw to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy.