Virat Kohli survives golden duck after Steve Smith’s controversial catch

The New Year Test between Australia and India started off with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma dropping himself from the playing XI for Shubman Gill. Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took over the captaincy duties for the deciding Test.

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On a green pitch with overcast conditions, Indian captain Bumrah went on to win the toss and elected to bat first. India looked under extreme pressure after losing two in-form batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul for 10 and four runs respectively.

Virat Kohli came in to bat when the scorecard read 17/2.  The Indian batter received a full-length delivery from Scott Boland on his very first ball, which he edged to the second slip Steve Smith, who scooped it up to the man at the gully.

Smith and other Aussie fielders started off the celebrations. However, the third umpire took his time and signaled it not out as the ball touched the ground after Steve Smith caught the ball at the second slip before scooping it to the gully by Marnus Labuschagne.

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"Australian fans will feel they've been robbed," Isa Guha said on air.

Mark Waugh, who was the co-commentator at that time on air said, 

"It would've been a great catch ... I think it was ... he's (Smith) not happy. You see his right finger just underneath it... I think he's got away with one there Kohli.”

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Watch the full incident here 

https://x.com/21OneTwo34/status/1874980836661240205 

What exactly happened in the replays?

Virat Kohli patiently waited after nicking the ball towards the second slip. The replays displayed that Smith’s right hand brushed the ground before Marnus Labuschagne completed the catch at the gully.

After a lot of angles reviewed by the third umpire, it was decided that the ball had made contact with the ground. While it was a relief for Virat Kohli, Smith was seen in extreme disbelief.

In conclusion, the New Year Test between Australia and India began with a controversial decision involving Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. Kohli survived a golden duck scare after the third umpire ruled Smith's catch as not out. The incident led to an exchange of words between Kohli and Smith, with Kohli smiling wryly. Ricky Ponting defended Smith's catch, stating that his fingers were underneath the ball. Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first, with Shubman Gill replacing Rohit Sharma in the XI.

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