Virat Kohli is usually a good fielder but he dropped a sitter at second slip to give a big lifeline to Marnus Labuschagne during the first Test between Australia and India in Optus Stadium, Perth.
During the third over of Australia’s first innings, a pumped-up Jasprit Bumrah steamed in to bowl. In the fifth ball of the over, Bumrah induced an outside edge of Labuschagne as the ball went quickly to Kohli’s right at second slip.
Kohli caught the ball initially but soon dropped it after his knees hit the turf. Kohli was seemingly trying to pull the ball back towards the body to not let it touch the ground but couldn’t hold on to it.
KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah initially thought that Kohli had caught the ball but were left in disbelief when they came to knew that the catch has been dropped.
Watch: Marnus Labuschagne-Nathan McSweeney take a Worldie relay catch to send Harshit Rana packing
Watch: Virat Kohli drops a sitter to give a lifeline to Marnus Labuschagne
— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) November 22, 2024
Jasprit Bumrah initially thought that he has got the big fish but Virat Kohli later suggested that he had grassed the ball. It was an unusual thing from a fielder of Kohli’s calibre.
It would have been a huge wicket for India as Labuschagne is one of the best top order batters in the world. His wicket would have been a big blow to Australia during that situation as Labuschagne was batting on 0.
Stunning over from Jasprit Bumrah
It was a stunning over from Jasprit Bumrah, who had picked up Australia’s first wicket just a couple of balls ago. Bumrah steamed in and bowled a good speeds while constantly threatening the outside edges of the batters.
Two balls ago, Bumrah provided India the opening breakthrough with the wicket of Nathan McSweeney as he trapped him in front. He could have got another wicket in the over if Virat Kohli had taken the catch.
Bumrah went on to pick two more wickets in an over later as he dismissed Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith in successive balls. The dropped catch by Virat Kohli didn’t prove to be too costly as Marnus Labuschagne could add just 2 more runs to his tally.
He was out for 2 off 52 balls and didn’t quite look settled at the crease. Indian bowlers kept piling the pressure on Marnus Labuschagne and he was finally dismissed by Mohammed Siraj when he trapped him right in front of the stumps.
Virat Kohli’s poor batting form continues
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli didn’t have a great day with the bat as well. The talismanic India batter was dismissed for just 5 off 12 balls as his poor batting form continued.
Kohli is having a torrid time recently with the bat. He had a disappointing home Test season as he returned low scores against Bangladesh and New Zealand. He scored 93 runs in three Tests at an average of just 15.50.
