Day one of the Sydney Test witnessed intense drama, thanks to a disputed catch involving Steve Smith and Virat Kohli. After KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early, Kohli narrowly escaped a golden duck. Facing his first delivery from Scott Boland, Kohli edged one to Smith at slip. The on-field umpires referred the decision upstairs.
The replays revealed the ball appearing to touch the ground as Smith clutched at it. Third umpire Joel Wilson ruled in Kohli’s favor, determining the ball had made contact with the turf. The decision, however, left Smith and the Australian Team unsatisfied.
“100% No Denying It” – Smith Stands Firm
During a break in play, Smith doubled down on his assertion. “100% no denying it whatsoever, 100%. But the umpire made his decision, and we move on,” he said. The Australian batter’s conviction sparked lively debates among experts and fans alike.
Justin Langer, speaking to the media, supported Smith’s stance. “From what I’ve seen, that should’ve been out. Smith’s fingers were clearly under the ball,” he remarked. Mark Waugh echoed this sentiment, stating, “To me, that’s just out. He’s made a second movement to get under it.”
Allan Border joined in, adding, “Kohli’s got away with one there. To me, it looked out.” However, not everyone was in agreement. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan sided with the third umpire’s decision, tweeting, “Virat Kohli was not out, which was rightly called NOT OUT.”
The Umpire’s Perspective
Third umpire Joel Wilson’s decision was based on extensive replays. “I could clearly see the ball roll off the grass,” Wilson explained, ruling in favour of Kohli. The footage showed Smith’s fingers under the ball but also highlighted that it touched the ground before the rebound.
Despite surviving the scare, Kohli’s innings was short-lived. After facing 69 balls, he departed for 17 runs, edging one to the slips again. It was a subdued knock for the former Indian captain, whose presence at the crease had initially provided hope to the Indian side.
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