Watch: Anushka Sharma reacts as Virat Kohli barely survives on the brink of his half-century

Virat Kohli looked in good touch during the second innings of the first Test between Australia and India at Optus Stadium, Perth. He played some traditional drives during his knock and countered the Australian bowlers well.

However, there was an incident when he survived a close call and his wife Anushka Sharma was seen breathing a sigh of relief. During the 115th over of the innings, Nathan Lyon bowled a ball outside off stump.

The ball took a sharp turn and hit Kohli's front pad before dying to Steve Smith at slip. Kohli looked to flick the ball away but was hit well outside off. Lyon and Carey had their hands on their heads as Kohli survived a fairly close call.

Watch- Virat Kohli gets uneasy after hitting a Security Guard with his 6 in Perth Test

Watch: Anushka Sharma breathes a sigh of relief after Virat Kohli's survival

pic.twitter.com/FDoUKt7tiN

— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) November 24, 2024

Anushka Sharma was visibly nervous as Kohli was nearing his fifty at that time. He was on 47 and desperately looking for a half-century. He survived and completed his fifty a few balls later.

Virat Kohli accelerated brilliantly after reaching his fifty. Washington Sundar was dismissed for 29 but the No. 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy played some exquisite shots to take India to a domination position.

Reddy gave a good company to Kohli and displayed an aggressive brand of cricket. He scored 38 off just 27 balls and remained unbeaten till the end. The allrounder struck 3 fours and 2 sixes during his knock.

Great partnership between Virat Kohli and Nitish Kumar Reddy

Kohli and Reddy stitched together an unbeaten partnershp of 77 runs for the 7th wicket as India declared their innings on 487-6. Virat Kohli hit a sweep shot for a four to reach an excellent hundred off 143 balls.

He smashed 8 fours and 2 sixes during his knock. It was a much needed innings for him as he had endured a poor run of form in Test cricket for some time now.

Virat Kohli had a disappointing home Test season recently where he managed just 1 fifty-plus score across five Tests. He scored just 93 runs across the three Tests against New Zealand at an average of 15.50.

His poor form was one of the reasons of India's embarrassing 0-3 defeat in home Tests against New Zealand. There were questions on Kohli's form and his ability to play the longest format of the game.

Virat Kohli's form a good sign for India

However, he gave a perfect reply to his critics with this magnificent ton. It was also his second Test hundred in this ground. This hundred will keep him in a good stead ahead of the remaining four Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

His return to form is a big threat to Australia. Over the years, Virat Kohli has good numbers in Australian soil. He averages more thatn 50 in Australia while scoring more than 1400 runs in 14 Tests.