You simply can’t keep Virat Kohli out of the spotlight.

On Thursday, he was at the centre of a spicy opening to the Boxing Day Test, escaping suspension for bumping teenage Australian debutant Sam Konstas in the middle of the MCG.

The Indian antagonist went out of his way to drop a shoulder into the youngster as he took the attack to his touring teammates.

By Friday morning, the back page of The West Australian had gone viral, with Indian fans riled up over the depiction of Kohli as a clown.

This newspaper’s back page showed the former Indian captain with a clown nose and the headline ‘Clown Kohli’.

The coverage has received a massive response on social media from Kohli’s staunch supporters and Indian media outlets.

The public sentiment in Australia around Kohli — a long-time cricketing nemesis — had shifted this tour to one of appreciation. It is almost certainly the batting great’s final tour to the country where he has made brutally successful.

In the morning session, a pitch invader ran onto the field, wrapped his arms around Kohli and then briefly danced with the Indian megastar.

The man, wearing a blue shirt that said “free” and a Ukraine flag, has reportedly been arrested by Victorian Police.

And Kohli was in the thick of it on the field as well on Friday. The veteran, likely on his last tour to Australia, was part of a steadfast partnership with wonder boy Yashasvi Jaiswal that was pulling India back into the match.

In five minutes of madness, the pair were involved in a catastrophic run-out, where Kohli turned his back on Jaiswal.

Then he was out himself moments later when he played at a ball outside off-stump from hometown hero Scott Boland.

“He’s a class player, we know that, he obviously played really well in Perth for that hundred and he looked really good today, I thought ‘geez, he’s in for a goo done here,” batting contemporary Steve Smith said.

“It was probably the first ball I think he actually played on that fifth, sixth stump line. He was really disciplined today, he was leaving nicely, making the bowlers come to him a bit more and scoring well through the leg side when we went short.

“I thought we were in for a bit of a masterclass there, but fortunately, Barrel (Boland) got one to straighten off that fifth stump line and it was one of the only ones he played at. It was fortunate to catch the edge.”

Indian supporters in the packed MCG crowd cheered his every move, including singles and his walk out to the crease.

But they were matched by Australians, with chants of “Kohli’s a w...er” ringing through the arena.

He even ended his day getting into a heated run-in with an Aussie supporter after leaving the pitch in a fan filmed video that went viral on social media.

Kohli was docked 20 per cent of his match fee and handed one demerit point over the clash with Konstas because match referee Andy Pycroft classed it a level one offence.

But some of the game’s greats say Kohli’s punishment was too light, including former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who feels letting Kohli off the hook could have flow-on effects.

“Personally, I don’t think it is harsh enough. Let’s have a think about the enormity yesterday, this is probably the most-watched day of cricket all around the world,” he told Channel 7.

“Imagine if that happens in a grade game on the weekend. I think people will think that is almost acceptable now.

“He is a role model, he is someone that the cricketing world looks up to, so I personally don’t think that the fine was harsh enough.”

Indian great Sunil Gavaskar said any fine needs to be more significant to actually deter players from that sort of behaviour.

“That’s a slap on the wrist I think,” he said.

“All these players are highly paid professionals and any fine has to be something that will be a deterrent.

“I just hope that Kohli, being one of the greatest cricketers in the world, is not remembered for this, he has to be remembered for what he’s done with the bat, how he has brought energy to cricket in India.”

Many also feel Kohli should have stopped himself before charging into the 19-year-old and one user on X even said The West should have been “more brutal”.

“Australian media choose to use ‘Clown Kohli’ instead of celebrating Sam Konstas debut. This is why Virat Kohli is brand in Australia,” one Indian fan posted.

“From king to clown ... unreal downfall for Virat Kohli,” another said.

India’s batting coach Abhishek Nayar claimed to have not seen or heard of the incident in a post-play press conference.