Second Test: Virat Kohli dismissed by debatable lbw call; India concede 1-run lead to Australia

• Shubham
• 18 February, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

The second day of the second Test match between India and Australia at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday (18) remained witness to a moment of controversy when ace batter Virat Kohli was dismissed by debutant spinner Matthew Kuhnemann.

Kohli, who was batting on 44 off 87 balls, played a forward defence shot against the spinner and on-field umpire Nitin Mohan announced him out as the fielding side appealed after the batter failed to connect the ball clearly and it got sandwiched between the bat and the pad.

The Indian cricketer went for a review and UtraEdge showed there was a spike while ball remained in between the bat and pad. TV umpire Richard Illingworth reckoned the ball hit the pad first and Kohli had to return to the pavilion.

The batter was not happy with the verdict and was seen watching his wicket’s replay in the dressing room and making animated reactions.

India head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour were not impressed either.

Former India cricketers Wasim Jaffer and Abhinav Mukund felt Kohli was unlucky to have been given out.

That wasn't out to me. Too much doubt in there. #INDvAUS #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/wrYGg1e1nT

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 18, 2023

As per MCC’s Law 36.2.2 if the ball hits the pad and bat at the same time, it should be considered having hit the bat first.

Kohli, who looked solid in his knock, was leading a revival of the Indian innings after the home team lost half its side for 125 in reply to Australia’s first innings score of 263. His dismissal pegged India back but a 114-run partnership between Axar Patel (74) and Ravichandran Ashwin (37) saw India finishing on 262, ceding a one-run lead to the visitors.

Nathan Lyon took five wickets for Australia who are trailing the four-match series 0-1 after losing the first match by an innings and 132 runs.

Australia were 61 for 1 at stumps on the second day, to take their total lead to 62. Opener Usman Khawaja was the batter who fell against spinner Ravindra Jadeja.