Australia vs India: Usman Khawaja takes a screamer to send Virat Kohli packing

Cummins has now dismissed Kohli twice in four balls without conceding a run.

Published - 06 Dec 2018, 07:21 IST | Updated - 06 Dec 2018, 07:21 IST

2 Min Read

“Virat Kohli won’t score a century in Australia.” This was the statement from Pat Cummins a few months ago at an event when asked how they will the Indian captain. Well, he has walked the talk in the very first innings of the series opener in Adelaide. Cummins bowled only three deliveries to Kohli and induced him in poking at a wide ball and then Usman Khawaja pulled off a stunner at gully to get rid of a special batsman.

It was a usual overseas start for India as their batsman was out in the middle at 15/2 in the eighth over of the first morning of a Test match. Australia got what they wanted and they had a set plan for him. Mitchell Starc kept him on the tenterhooks at the start by bowling the bouncers and so did Josh Hazlewood. Rather Starc got an extra over when he came out to bat.

Pat Cummins, who had got Virat Kohli out off the very first ball that he bowled to him back in India last year, came into the attack in the 11th over. The first ball was on a good length and the batsman was not fully forward in a prodded defence as Kohli was still gauging the pace of the pitch. The next was the fuller length ball as he got forward nicely to drive it to mid-off.

The dreaded moment and Khawaja claims glory

However, the next ball was the ‘brain fade’ from Virat Kohli. He literally went after an extremely wide delivery as he thought of caressing the drive through the covers. But the 29-year-old could only edge as the rocketed past the gully where Usman Khawaja was stationed. He didn’t let the chance go and grabbed the stunner with his left-hand and a dive in the air.

It was such an instinctive reaction from him and the catch could probably win them his Test match. Australia were sharp on the field from the word go which has earned the most prized scalp so early. England also had Kohli in strife early in the series but Dawid Malan dropped and what transpired later was a run-flow from the masterful Kohli.

But the Aussies have clung on to convert a half-chance and they are straight-away bossing the game now. India are already four down in the first session and the hosts will be sensing an early finish to the first innings now.