Australia have seemingly muddled the mind of India skipper Virat Kohli, who continued his bumbling form with an unsuccessful review of a plumb lbw dismissal in Bangalore.
Kohli started the four-Test series in career-best touch, having posted a double-ton in each of his preceding four series.
The gifted right-hander looked a different batsman in Pune during the first Test. Kohli shouldered arms to a straight ball from Steve O'Keefe that hit the middle of off stump, while he edged an unthreatening delivery from Mitchell Starc in the first innings.
Steve Smith predicted his counterpart would hit back with a vengeance in Bangalore. Kohli noted he had "to play the line" to spinners O'Keefe and Nathan Lyon - and would do so next time.
Both skippers were wrong.
Kohli again played a huge role in his downfall on Saturday. The 28-year-old failed to offer a shot to a regulation offbreak from Lyon that skidded onto his pads.
"It's the second time in this series that Virat Kohli has been dismissed leaving the ball. A judgement error from the best batsman in the world," Matthew Hayden said on Star Sports.
"There's only one reason for that and it's pressure. Pressure created by Nathan Lyon.
"It's something so rare from Virat."
If the lbw dismissal on 12 represented an uncharacteristic lack of composure from Kohli, his review was downright embarrassing.
Murali Vijay suggested earlier this week that his team had discussed how they must be more judicious in their use of the Decision Review System (DRS), having been guilty of futile referrals in Pune.
Kohli had a brief chat with teammate KL Rahul before referring his dismissal. Even before ball-tracking technology confirmed the obvious, Kohli started to trudge off the field.
A single replay on the scoreboard at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was compelling enough evidence for Kohli to walk, much to the dismay of the thousands who had come to see Kohli bat.
It was the fifth time Lyon dismissed Kohli in a Test - no bowler has been so successful against the superstar apart from English paceman Jimmy Anderson.
Kohli's wicket came a day after he accused Smith of playing "mind games", clearly unhappy with his counterpart's suggestion that India were under pressure.
"Does it look like it? I'm pretty relaxed. I'm happy. I'm smiling. It's fine. It's his view, whatever he wants to say," Kohli said.
"I know these mind games and these press conferences are something they're very good at.
"We're not looking too much into it. I think it's time to focus on our skills rather than what Australia is saying."
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