Shane Watson lost his cool in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday night as his Rajasthan Royals missed a chance to go top of the table.

Set 167 to win by the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium, tempers flared when Watson came to the crease at No.5 with the score at 3-26.

Before he had even faced a ball, Mumbai’s West Indian allrounder Kieron Pollard – no shrinking violet during last season’s Big Bash in Australia – started taunting Watson.

The pair had a running battle over five overs that prompted Watson to complain to umpire Asad Rauf and opposition captain Rohit Sharma.

The 31-year-old managed just 19 from 16 balls before he skied left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha’s delivery to Pollard, who gleefully gave Watson a big send-off.

Pollard and Watson continued the banter near the boundary rope and eventually the Australian stormed off to the dressing rooms to cool off.

Rajasthan, who have already qualified for next week’s semi-finals, fell 14 runs short despite Victorian veteran Brad Hodge’s late flourish of 39 from 27 balls.

Tasmanian left-arm medium-pacer James Faulkner took 2-32 for the Royals and helped Watson (2-30) restrict Mumbai.

Viewed as a key factor in Australia’s hopes of regaining the Ashes this year if fit to play as an allrounder, Watson has got through an albeit light bowling workload in the IPL.

Back bowling after a calf strain forced him to play as a specialist batsman in the recent Test series in India, Watson has managed just under 32 overs with 56 days before the first Test in Nottingham.