BGT 2024-25: Run-out chaos and a set Virat’s fall, was it the turning point for India?
Xtra Time Web Desk: Virat Kohli’s innings in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was shaping up to be something special. The former India captain, coming into the match after rigorous preparation, looked determined to overcome his recent struggles against deliveries outside the off-stump. His early discipline and fluent stroke play had fans hoping for a memorable hundred, but his innings ended in disappointment, contributing to India’s precarious position in the match.
Facing Pat Cummins early on, Kohli resisted the temptation to drive at a ball in the corridor of uncertainty, a decision that drew applause from his supporters. His assured play against the Australian pacers and precise handling of Nathan Lyon’s spin suggested a batsman in complete control. Kohli’s confidence was further evident when he executed a textbook cover drive against Cummins and later flicked Mitchell Starc with authority to the boundary.
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Poetry in motion! ????@imVkohli's cover drive = Thing of beauty! ????#AUSvINDOnStar ???? 4th Test, Day 2 | LIVE NOW! | #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/5sylyqwsbz
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 27, 2024
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Kohli’s third-wicket partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal was pivotal as India looked to rebuild after losing two early wickets. Jaiswal, who had impressed with a fluent 82, and Kohli brought India to 153 for 2, applying pressure on Australia for the first time in the match.
However, disaster struck when a miscommunication between the two led to Jaiswal’s run-out. Jaiswal tapped a delivery from Scott Boland towards mid-on and called for a single, but Kohli hesitated, leaving the young opener stranded. The run-out shifted the momentum firmly back in Australia’s favor.
Moments later, Kohli fell for 36, undone by Boland, who targeted the dreaded fifth-stump line. Kohli, disciplined for much of his innings, poked at one that straightened off the seam, edging it to the slip cordon. Australia’s Steve Smith, who scored his fifth MCG hundred earlier, acknowledged Kohli’s brilliance while praising Boland’s precision.
"Virat was in fine touch. He was disciplined, leaving plenty outside off and scoring well through the leg side. But Boland bowled a beauty, and Kohli’s dismissal was a big moment," Smith said.
India collapsed spectacularly after Kohli’s wicket, losing three wickets for just 11 runs. From 153 for 2, the visitors were reduced to 164 for 5 by stumps on Day 2, trailing Australia’s imposing first-innings total of 474 by 310 runs.
What had begun as a promising day for India ended in frustration, with the team facing an uphill task to claw back into the contest. Kohli’s dismissal, combined with Jaiswal’s unfortunate run-out, served as a reminder of how fleeting momentum can be in Test cricket.
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With three days remaining, India will rely heavily on Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja to stage a comeback. A Kohli masterclass could have changed the complexion of the match, but as it stands, India’s chances look bleak.
