Virat Kohli mocks Test teammate over Mankad controversy

Virat Kohli has fanned the flames of an apparent disconnect between members of the Indian team and Ravi Ashwin, dragging the Mankad dismissal back into the spotlight.

Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Ashwin's Kings XI Punjab by 17 runs on Thursday.

But while AB de Villiers stole the immediate headlines with an impossible six, the Indian skipper's actions after helping dismiss Ashwin didn't go unnoticed.

Needing 27 runs to win, Ashwin attempted to drag Kings XI to an unlikely victory with a six off the first ball of the final over.

But the very next delivery was sent down Kohli's throat at long-on – and Kohli didn't hesitate to send a message to Ashwin, gesturing with his empty right hand then grabbing the ball to mock a Mankad dismissal.

Ashwin threw his gloves as he reached the boundary and avoided targeting Kohli in the post-match press conference.

"I just play with passion, so does he," Ashwin told reporters.

"That's it. Simple as that."

However, the situation has added to simmering drama in Indian cricket.

It hasn't gone unnoticed that none of Ashwin's international teammates spoke out in support after the Mankad, despite the outrage from the likes of Australia and England.

Ashwin was also overlooked for India's Cricket World Cup squad, having been frozen out of the ODI setup since June 2017.

Could he soon find his way out of the Test team in spite of all his success?

If Kohli’s influence matters then it appears to be a real possibility.

The win for Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore boosted their slim hopes of reaching the knockout stage after starting the season with just two wins from their first nine matches.

Kings XI Punjab hold a 5-5 record after their opening 10 games.