The opening day of the fifth Test match between India and Australia featured a thrilling incident involving Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, captivating the audience. Kohli faced a moment of peril on the very first delivery he encountered, narrowly escaping dismissal in Sydney.

Scott Boland delivered a short ball, pitching it around the off stump. In an attempt to play the shot, Kohli edged the ball thickly, sending it towards second slip, where Smith made a desperate lunge to seize the opportunity.

Smith's effort to secure the catch resulted in the ball deflecting to Marnus Labuschagne at fourth slip, who successfully completed the catch. The Australian players erupted in jubilation, with Smith appearing convinced that he had taken the catch cleanly, promptly signaling to the umpire for a review.

Nevertheless, after a tense examination of the replays, the television umpire ruled in favor of Kohli. Despite Smith's firm belief that he had caught the ball cleanly, the third umpire determined that the ball had made contact with the ground before being redirected to Labuschagne. Kohli, having narrowly escaped a golden duck, exhibited visible relief, breaking into a wry smile as he returned to his crease.

Despite the session concluding with India losing three wickets for 57 runs, Smith remained resolute in his belief that the catch was legitimate. In a conversation with cricket.com.au, he stated, “100%. No denying it whatsoever,” when questioned about his conviction regarding Kohli's dismissal.

Watch:

India experienced a moment of unexpected fortune after losing two early wickets, which appeared to instill a sense of optimism within the team. Nevertheless, Kohli's innings was short-lived, as he was unable to capitalize on the opportunity; he was dismissed early in the second session, succumbing once more to a delivery outside the off-stump.

Ultimately, it was Boland who claimed his wicket, delivering a ball wide of the off-stump. In an effort to play at the delivery, Kohli edged it, resulting in a catch for slip fielder Beau Webster.

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!