'Virat Kohli should’ve been dropped instead of Rohit Sharma’: India great blasted after Sydney Test failure

The New Year’s Test between India and Australia got underway on January 3 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). It is a do-or-die encounter for Team India, as Australia has already taken a 2-1 lead in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Well, the ground and captain changed, and even the year, but Virat Kohli’s old problems remained the same, as the former Indian captain has yet again left one and all disappointed with his batting in the ongoing fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney.

Virat Kohli's off-stump woes resurfaced in Sydney, fans demand retirement

On the third ball of the 32nd over, Scott Boland managed to get the better of India’s senior batter with Beau Webster catching him at third slip. Scott Boland kept testing Kohli outside the off-stump and finally got the edge. The Australian pacer delivered a 135.8 kph delivery, just outside off and back of a length, and Virat Kohli, batting out of his crease to counter the movement, jabbed at it slightly.

Read Also: Virat Kohli to become India's Test captain again? Reports make a shocking claim

The ball took the edge and flew to Beau Webster, who dived to his left to take a sharp catch. Kohli couldn't soften his hands enough, and India is now in serious trouble with four wickets down for just 72. Kohli had been leaving similar deliveries earlier, but he couldn't control his intent and lost his wicket, departing for just 17 off 69 balls at the SCG.

Following yet another flop show in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, fans went berserk at Virat Kohli for getting out in the same style. Fans have started sharing Thank you, Virat Kohli posts, demanding his retirement from Test cricket. Many have been calling him a stupid batter.

Here's how fans react to Virat Kohli's failure at the SCG here:

Stupid stupid stupid performance by batsman.

Everytime when outside the off stump ball came. Virat Kohli ready to play💔#ViratKohli𓃵 #ViratKohli #Virat #Kohli#AUSvIND #INDvsAUS #chokli#bordergavaskartrophy2024 pic.twitter.com/ECTv8LwP8C

— pooja saini (@poojasaini20440) January 3, 2025

Again Stupid performance by Indian batsman #ViratKohli as #Chokli everytime same mistake 🥵

Rohit is NOT OUT 💔#INDvsAUS
STUPID STUPID STUPID pic.twitter.com/Vy8O88FSeD

— Mr.Dk (@Dk_Singh31) January 3, 2025

Virat Kohli should be given this Treatment by Gambhir 😭🫠 #INDvsAUS #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/G8k1arnLvl

— Honest Kohli Fan❤️💚 (@KingEra_18) January 3, 2025

Stupid stupid stupid
Trying different techniques to get out in the same style ...Thank you Virat Kohli for your services..Now pls retire
#chokli #retire #ViratKohli#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/7sr4EGVrnN

— out of context crictracker (@Hydrogensharma) January 3, 2025

Survived golden duck due to third umpire
Survived many inside edges
Danced on pitch
Got out in same manner after eating 69 balls
still playing for last 5 years due to a 4year peak.
RETIRE MDC CHOKLI #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/zZY0NSqEM5

— Professor Cricket45 (@209_mohali) January 3, 2025

Continuously trying to play on offside and end up throwing his wicket. He is beyond finish now, should retire gracefully

RETIRE MDC CHOKLI#ViratKohli #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/27yP4earAf

— Mamta Jaipal  (@ImMD45) January 3, 2025

बस यही अपराध मैं हर बार करता हूँ।
कोहली हूँ बाहरी बॉल को उंगली करता हूँ ।#ViratKohli #INDvsAUS #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/t35cWhsdsw

— Rashtra (@ImrashtRm) January 3, 2025

Virat seems to have embraced the “nick it” style, with no signs of fixing it. It’s disappointing to see such a great player falling into the same trap over and over. #AUSvIND #ViratKohli

— Explorer (@explorer732) January 3, 2025

जनहित में जारी हैं, अगली बारी तुम्हारी हैं !
Kohli bhai saal badal gya kuch to perform karlo 🙏#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/K6EOuo4nKt

— Aary (@aary_joshi03) January 3, 2025

Love affair continues Virat Kohli🤝Getting outside off stumps.
What kind of obsession is this?#ViratKohli𓃵 #INDvsAUS #INDvAUS #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/F7zj9bV1nI

— The Discussion Club (@thesumitpodcast) January 3, 2025

#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/fV11Wx9ik2

— Aditya Mall Rajput 🇮🇳 (@aditya_vishen__) January 3, 2025

It continues.... never ending story 🥹#ViratKohli #INDvsAUS #INDvsAUSTest pic.twitter.com/49cJd94TG7

— Hindu Shiva — शिवा तिवारी (@HinduShiva1) January 3, 2025

Kohli should have been dropped and Rohit should have been asked to complete the series.

— Vaayumaindan (@bystanderever) January 3, 2025

Steve Smith’s low catch on Virat Kohli sparks controversy

Meanwhile, Steve Smith was fully confident that he cleanly caught Virat Kohli on Day 1 of the ongoing New Year’s Test in Sydney but was left disappointed when the decision didn’t go his way. The incident unfolded in the eighth over after India opted to bat.

The dashing right-hander, facing his first delivery, edged a Scott Boland delivery to second slip. Steve Smith dived low to his right and appeared to grab the ball near the ground before tossing it towards Marnus Labuschagne at gully, who completed the catch.

Read Also: Rohit Sharma set to announce retirement after Sydney Test? Report reveals truth

However, the on-field umpires decided to review the catch. TV umpire Joel Wilson carefully examined the footage and ruled Kohli not out, as the ball had briefly touched the ground before Smith scooped it up. However, he is 100% sure that the catch was valid.

On being asked if he got his hand under the ball, Steve Smith told Fox Sports at the lunch break: “100%. No denying it whatsoever, 100%. But the umpire has made the decision. We'll move on.”

Steve Smith's fingers are clearly underneath the ball: Ricky Ponting

Even former Australia captain Ricky Ponting did not agree with the third umpire's decision to give a lifeline to Kohli that he only wasted later in the innings at the SCG.

Ricky Ponting said on-air during the commentary with 7Cricket: “As far as I was concerned, if (the ball) had come out of (Smith's) hand, he wouldn't have been able to scoop it up. That's what I'm saying; I think his fingers are clearly underneath the ball... Look where his pointer finger is there; it's still underneath the ball.”