WATCH: Virat Kohli survives after controversial catch decision goes in his favor during 5th Test

Controversy arose early when Virat Kohli survived a close catch appeal in the very first ball he faced during the fifth Test at SCG. The former India skipper came out to bat after Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 10. Kohli walked into mixed reactions with a smattering of cheers being matched with an equal number of boos. 

Scott Boland was bowling the fifth ball of his first over as Kohli faced up to him. The star Aussie bowler delivered a good length delivery that took the edge of Kohli’s bat. Steve Smith went down low, took the catch, and scooped the ball back into play. Just when the relay catch was taken by another player at slip, the Aussie began to celebrate. 

Virat Kohli #INDvsAUS #RohitSharma𓃵 pic.twitter.com/WTSRFSt20a

— Shakir Nazir (@ShakirNazir123) January 3, 2025

The on-field umpires though weren’t sure about the catch being clean. Numerous replays later it was deemed that the ball had touched the ground. Indian fans cheered as the third umpire displayed not out on the board. Had Kohli been dismissed this would have been the 6th time he would have been out caught behind nicking. 

India loses two early wickets on day one of SCG Test

Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and chose to bat first on what looked a great wicket for the bowlers. KL Rahul was back opening the batting for India after regular skipper Rohit Sharma had decided to rest himself for the game. Shubman Gill came into replace Rohit while Prasidh Krishna came in for Akash Deep who had a stiff back. 

Mitchell Starc who himself is under an injury cloud got the first wicket of the game. KL Rahul tried to flick a full ball only to find Sam Konstas take an easy catch. Rahul scored 4 runs from 14 balls as India lost their first wicket at the score of 11. Yashasvi Jaiswal who scored 82 and 84 in the last game was caught behind to give Boland his first wicket. 

Australia came into the match with a debutant in Beau Webster who replaced Mitchell Marsh. The hosts are leading the series 2-1 and a win or drawn game will secure their place in the World Test Championships finals. If India were to lose the game, they would also lose the Border Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade.