Sydney: Virat Kohli was nearly dismissed on the very first ball he faced. He edged a delivery from Scott Boland to the slips, where Steve Smith managed to get a hand on the low catch at second slip, redirecting it to Marnus Labuschagne, who completed what appeared to be an extraordinary catch.

The Australian team erupted in celebration, but umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat sought the opinion of his colleague, Michael Gough, leading to a review by the third umpire.

The footage examined by Joel Wilson did not provide clear evidence, and he ultimately determined that the renowned Indian batsman was not out. The Australian players were left in disbelief but had no option but to accept the decision.

“He’s got his fingers [under it], but it has rolled onto the ground. I have that ball just touching the ground,” Wilson explained.

Kohli embraced this second chance with enthusiasm and gradually found his rhythm. Initially, he was selective, leaving balls outside the off-stump, an area that has troubled him in the past, and he has acknowledged the necessity for greater discipline.

As is often the case, he began his innings looking composed. According to CricViz, he left nearly 50% of the deliveries outside the off-stump during the early stages of his innings. Kohli managed to score 7 runs off 30 balls in that region, demonstrating a cautious approach.

However, his progress was slow. Following the lunch break, he adopted a more aggressive stance. In the last 13 deliveries outside the off-stump, he only left one, culminating in his dismissal. This marked the seventh occasion on this tour that Kohli has been dismissed by balls outside the off-stump.

Some may contend that he has faced a degree of misfortune. CricViz indicates that Kohli has recorded just 11 plays and misses in this series, yet has 10 outside edges leading to 7 dismissals. In contrast, Jaiswal has experienced 60 plays and misses with only 15 outside edges resulting in 3 dismissals. Thus, while Kohli has performed well, his efforts have often been undermined by the ever-present threat of a false shot.

The Australian bowlers are aware that if they persist with deliveries outside the off-stump, he is likely to edge one eventually. This has become a discernible pattern.

Read Also: "Irfan Pathan Critiques Kohli's Repeated Errors: A Call for Discipline"

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