On the gripping first day of the fifth Test in Sydney against Australia, Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli encountered a nail-biting moment that almost led to him being out for a first-ball duck. Anushka Sharma, who was at the game, had a viral response to this tense situation, emphasizing the moment’s drama.
Virat Kohli’s stint at the crease was fraught with challenges. India, already in a precarious position at 17/2, saw Kohli walk out only to edge his first delivery to second slip. Initially caught by Steve Smith and scooped to the gully fielder, the ball was eventually ruled to have touched the ground upon review, sparing Kohli an early exit. The tension was palpable, particularly in Anushka Sharma’s reaction, which quickly went viral across social platforms.
Watch Anushka Sharma's crazy reaction after Virat Kohli got out today#ViratKohli #AnushkaSharma pic.twitter.com/11airToSiT
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) January 3, 2025Despite surviving the initial scare, Kohli’s struggles did not end there. He battled through 69 deliveries but only scored 17 runs without hitting a single boundary. Australian pacer Scott Boland once again exploited his recurring difficulties with deliveries outside off stump, dismissing Kohli for the third time in the series. This latest performance places Kohli on an unfortunate list of players with poor averages in recent Test innings, overshadowed even by some bowlers.
Watch: Anushka Sharma's Reaction After Virat Kohli Almost Falls For First-Ball Duck Goes Viralhttps://t.co/Lkxx587NF9 pic.twitter.com/Ws4lFP8t9B
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) January 3, 2025Since the beginning of 2024, Kohli’s form has seen a significant downturn. In the first innings of Tests, he has batted five times, accumulating a mere 35 runs at an average of 7.00, with a highest score of just 17. His 17, 7, 5, 0, and 6 scores are troubling for one of cricket’s brightest talents. Among notable statistics, Kohli’s average is the second-lowest since 2024 for batting in the first innings of a Test, only above South African spinner Keshav Maharaj, who averages 5.4.
Read: BCCI Urged to Prepare Exit Plan for Virat Kohli Amid Retirement Talks
