India vs Australia: Usman Khawaja's one-handed catch leaves Virat Kohli stunned
India vs Australia, 1st Test: Usman Khawaja took a one-handed catch at backward point to dismiss Virat Kohli on the first day in Adelaide.
In Short
- Virat Kohli was dismissed on 3 by Pat Cummins in the morning session of 1st Test
- Usman Khawaja took a one-handed catch at backward point as Kohli chased a wide delivery
- Kohli's early dismissal reduced India to 19 for 3 in the 11th over
Virat Kohli was left stunned by Usman Khawaja who took a brilliant one-handed catch to help Australia remove the India captain in the morning session on the first day of the first Test in Adelaide.
Kohli, who came in to bat his regular No.4 position after India were reduced to 15/2 in the 7th over, scored only 3 off 16 balls.
Kohli was facing paceman Pat Cummins, who came in as a first bowling change in the 11th over. The in-form skipper was firm in his approach until the 3rd ball of the 11th over.
Cummins bowled a wide ball outside off, Kohli saw the opportunity to attack the ball and played it away from his body.
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Khawaja, who was positioned at the backward point, made a full stretch dive towards his left to take a brilliant one-handed catch.
Incredible from @Uz_Khawaja! #AUSvIND | @bet365_aus pic.twitter.com/eLgBLnQssM cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2018
Kohli had scored a hundred in each innings in India's last Test at the Adelaide Oval when they toured Down Under in 2014-15. In fact, before Thursday's early dismissal, Kohli had played two Tests in Adelaide, scoring scored 394 runs with the help of three centuries.
Earlier, India won the toss and elected to bat first, leaving Tim's Paine's side to face a scorching day in the field.
India confirmed that specialist batsman Rohit Sharma would take the number six spot vacated by the injured fast-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya, with spin bowling all-rounder Hanuma Vihari missing out.
"It's great batting conditions, fresh pitch, I think the ball will come onto the bat nicely," said Kohli, bidding to lead India to a first ever Test series win Down Under.
"It's a hard pitch with good grass on it. Plus the weather's going to play a part.
"We've gone with the same combination as Australia, three seamers and a spinner ... and we've solidified our batting a bit."
India have played 11 Test series in Australia and have drawn three series Down Under in 1980-81, 1985-86 and 2003-04.
(With inputs from Reuters)