The first innings of the fifth Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on January 3, 2025, was nothing short of disappointment for Virat Kohli and his fans.
Virat Kohli’s struggles against deliveries outside the off-stump continued on Friday morning, as his style of batting has bas become predictable for opponents.
India was struggling at 17/2 after losing both openers early. The pressure was mounting, and Kohli’s job was to steady the ship. However, things didn’t go according to plan, as he soon found himself involved in a nerve-wracking moment during the early stages of his innings. Scott Boland, Australia’s reliable pacer, was bowling a probing length outside off-stump.
Kohli, who has often been troubled by deliveries in that area, jabbed at one outside off, and it flew to first slip. The ball appeared to brush the ground before Steve Smith made a stunning attempt at a catch. The Aussies were convinced it was the end of Kohli, but after a review, third umpire Joel Wilson deemed the delivery not out.
However, Kohli’s second brush with disaster came soon after. On the 31st over of the innings, Kohli again edged a Boland delivery and this time was caught at third slip by Webster.
7 out of 8 times, he’s been dismissed in a similar fashion in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Despite his brilliant century in the first Test of the series in Perth, his subsequent scores were far from reassuring. In the 2024-25 series, Kohli has struggled to find consistency, and his dismissal in Sydney only added fuel to the fire.
KOHLI IN ONGOING Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25:
Perth Test: 5 and 100*
Adelaide Test: 7 and 11
Brisbane Test: 3
Melbourne Test: 36 and 5
Sydney Test: 17 and Yet to bat
