Fans turn on Indian players after crucial error

A missed catch that could prove costly for India in the second Test against Australia in Perth has divided the opinion of fans on social media.

The tourist’s star batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was the man at first slip when Aussie opener Marcus Harris – on just two runs- edged one behind in the hosts’ second innings.

HIGH DRAMA: Kohli’s masterful knock ends in controversy

There appeared to be some confusion between Pujara and keeper Rishabh Pant as to who was going to take the ball the whizzed off Harris’ edge.

Perhaps unsighted, Pant remained stuck to the spot as Pujara made a late attempt to grab what would have been a spectacular catch.

Unfortunately for the tourists, the ball slipped out of his fingers and the chance went begging, with Australia 0/9 at the time and slowly extending their lead from the first innings.

Commentators suggested the blame for the dropped catch shouldn’t rest with Pujara, insisting it was Pant’s ball to take – rather than the man at first slip.

The incident led to some heated debate between viewers on social media.

Kohli undone after moment of controversy

Stoic skipper Virat Kohli’s outstanding century ended in contentious fashion as India were bowled out for 283 on day three of the second Test, handing Australia a first-innings lead of 43 runs in Perth.

Kohli, who marched to the crease with India in deep trouble at 2-8 on Saturday, outclassed Australia’s star-studded attack in a knock of 123 to doggedly shift momentum in the match.

The gifted right-hander was out edging to Pat Cummins in the penultimate over of Sunday’s morning session, with the dismissal upheld after third umpire Nigel Llong agonised over every angle of Peter Handscomb’s slips catch to see whether it carried.

Llong eventually decided there wasn’t conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field call and reprieve Kohli, who clearly thought otherwise as he trudged off Optus Stadium without acknowledging the crowd.

Kohli’s dismissal sparked a collapse of 3-3 but Rishabh Pant, dropped on 15 when he hammed the ball back at Cummins, counter-punched with a quick-fire 36 from 50 deliveries.

Nathan Lyon wrapped up the innings by dismissing Pant and Jasprit Bumrah in the same over to finish with a haul of 5-67.

The hosts struck in Sunday’s opening over, when Lyon had Ajinkya Rahane caught behind on 51, then Mitchell Starc struck Kohli’s left elbow during the following over.

Kohli didn’t flinch. The superstar was unperturbed by either setback, with an ice pack in the morning drinks break the only treatment he received during the session.

Kohli brought up the 25th ton of his Test career – and record-equalling sixth in Australia – with a sweetly-timed straight drive off Starc’s second delivery with the second new ball.

A low-key celebration, in which Kohli seemingly made the point that his bat had done all the talking, was a clear statement of intent that the world’s best batsman was hungry for more runs and a victory that would ensure his team retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

The fact it was Kohli’s second-slowest Test century, coming from 214 balls, was an indicator of his composure during some challenging spells on day two.

Kohli’s milestone drew him level with Sachin Tendulkar for most Test centuries in Australia by an Indian.