Sports "Kohli Survives Scare As India Opt To Bat In Series Finale Against Australia" India's star batsman Virat Kohli had a close call on the first ball he faced in the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney. Opting to bat first, India lost early wickets but Kohli, who came into the game after the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, was almost caught out in the outside off trap. However, after review, the third umpire declared the ball had slipped out of Steve Smith's grasp and Kohli survived. India's decision to bat first in difficult conditions raised eyebrows as they were without regular captain Rohit Sharma, who had a poor run in the series.
India's Close Call: Virat Kohli Survives Scare in Series Finale
In a thrilling start to the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney, India's star batsman Virat Kohli had a heart-stopping moment on the first ball he faced.
Background
The match is the culmination of a tense Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia. India, led by stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, is looking to salvage a draw after losing the first three Tests. Australia, captained by Pat Cummins, has already retained the trophy but is determined to end the series on a high.
The Incident
Opting to bat first, India lost early wickets, including opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Kohli, the team's batting mainstay, came to the crease under immense pressure. Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon bowled a tempting outside off-stump delivery that Kohli attempted to drive. The ball popped up and was caught by Australian skipper Steve Smith at short mid-wicket.
Review and Survival
India immediately called for a review, and replays showed that the ball had slipped out of Smith's grasp as he tumbled to the ground. The third umpire subsequently reversed the decision, giving Kohli a lifeline. Lyon was crestfallen, while Kohli and the Indian team breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Significance
Kohli's survival is a crucial development in the match. He is India's batting mainstay and his presence at the crease gives them much-needed stability. If he had been dismissed early, India's chances of posting a competitive total would have been severely diminished.
FAQs
India is without regular captain Rohit Sharma, who has had a poor series with the bat. The team management likely felt that batting first would give them the best chance of setting a challenging total on a pitch that is expected to deteriorate as the match progresses.
As Smith fell to the ground after taking the catch, the ball popped out of his grasp. Replays confirmed this, and the third umpire overturned the on-field decision.
Kohli is India's most experienced and important batsman. His presence at the crease gives the team a much better chance of posting a competitive total and staying in the match.
At the time of writing, India is 15/2 after 8.3 overs. The match is evenly poised, with Australia holding a slight edge given their record in the series so far.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a Test cricket series contested between India and Australia since 1996. It is named after former Australian captain Allan Border and former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. Australia currently holds the trophy, having won the previous edition in 2018-19.
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