IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli's dismissal in 2nd Test sparks controversy

Australia’s Matthew Kuhnemann removed India flamboyant batter Virat Kohli in the first innings of the ongoing second Test. The two cricketing powerhouses locked horns at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi for the second of the four-match Test series, on February 17.

After Nathan Lyon dented the rival's batting top-order, Matthew Kuhnemann sent the big shark Virat Kohli back to the dugout for 44 runs. In the midst of India's batting innings, Kohli took the onus of driving the team to a competitive total only for his innings to get cut-short by Kuhnemann who pinned him for an LBW.

Bowling the arm ball to the flamboyant right hander, Kohli played the ball a little outside the line only for the ball to skid onto the pads. Taking the review swiftly, the underlying question remained whether the ball first hit the bat or the pad. After carefully looking at the replays, the TV umpire reckoned it hit the pad first and thereby called for ball tracking which further displayed the ball hitting the middle and leg stumps.

However, the decision has garnered attention for the wrong reasons as many fans and some members of the cricketing fraternity immediately took heed and expressed their opinion. Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer opined that he did not believe the batter should have been given ‘out’ as he shared a picture of the dismissal which shows the slight deflection of the ball from the bat. 

Nathan Lyon claims his fifth victim; keeps Australia on top 

The veteran spinner has been in magnificent form with the ball. After claiming the wickets of skipper Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara, Lyon further got the vital scalps of Shreyas Iyer and keeper-batter Srikar Bharat to complete a five-wicket haul. 

While Australia continue their domination courtesy of Lyon’s fifer, India on the other hand are in a precarious state in the first innings. The home side will hope that all-rounder Axar Patel and veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stitch an important partnership to revive their game.

The two heavyweights are on the cusp of making a place in the ICC World Test Championship summit clash. However, with the series proving to be a crucial one, it remains to be seen which side outclasses the other to seal their berth in the finals of the global ICC event.