In the first innings of the Sydney Test, former Indian captain Virat Kohli survived first-ball dismissal as the third umpire gave the not out verdict after closely looking at the incident. 

Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah chose to bat first in the overcast conditions at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were dismissed cheaply as Virat Kohli came to bat early. 

On the very first ball that Kohli faced, Scott Boland challenged the no.4 batter as he had an outside edge. The ball went down while the slip fielder Steven Smith went for a tough catch. The former Aussie skipper scooped that, and Marnus Labuschagne successfully took that catch. 

The decision went to the third umpire while the Aussie players were celebrating Kohli’s dismissal. After observing closely through several replays, third umpire Joel Wilson declared not out by saying, "Clearly see the ball roll off the grass.” 

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What did Steven Smith say?

At the lunch break, Steven Smith showed his full confidence about that catch. He said to Isa Guha, "100%. No denying it whatsoever, 100%. But the umpire has made the decision. We'll move on." Meanwhile, the decision brought much confusion as there were two different views between experts.

"100%. No denying it whatsoever."

Steve Smith weighs in on whether he got his hand underneath the ball in the biggest moment of the morning. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/bqIy8iGIRm

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2025

Despite that survival, Kohli once again failed to score big runs as he was caught out at the slip in the second session after scoring only 17 runs off 69 balls.

Mark Waugh and Allan Border felt it was out

Former Aussie cricketer Mark Waugh told Fox Cricket, “I think that’s out; I think that’s very close to touching the grass, but I think he rolled underneath it with his finger.”

Legendary Aussie cricketer and ODI World Cup-winning captain Allan Border said, “I think he’s got away with one there Kohli, but that’s the way the game goes. I suppose you can look at it two ways, beauty’s in the eye of the beholder. I think evidence suggests he just had his finger underneath it. It looks like he had enough hand underneath the ball … it’s so close, it’s hard to tell.”

Simon Taufel explained

Meanwhile, the legendary umpire Simon Taufel brought his important views. He said, “I think you described it very well when you said that depending upon which side of the fence you sit on you could probably build a case for either decision to be given.

“Listening to Joel Wilson’s language there, where he said the fingers were underneath the ball and then he’s seen it roll on to the ground, by his own language he is telling us that he believes he’s seeing that ball on the ground.

“So, there are two things that the TV umpire here is looking for. One is fingers underneath the ball. He was satisfied there. But then he believes through those pictures that he’s clearly seen the ball on the ground.

“And here’s the challenge, slowing it right down with slow-mo. Play it at real speed and it looks pretty good.

“I can certainly understand what the third umpire’s done there. He believes he’s seen the ball on the ground and called it way he’s seen it. Normally the ICC protocol on fair catches is if you see the fingers underneath the ball, that’s good to maintain a fair catch.

“But here’s the problem: the on-field umpire’s no longer have the soft signal and make the decision, it’s purely in the hands of the television umpire now.”

Irfan Pathan supported the decision

Meanwhile, the former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan felt that the third umpire took the right decision. 

Virat Kohli was not out which was rightly called NOT OUT. will explain during the break.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 3, 2025