Indian captain Virat Kohli scored his 25th Test century on Sunday morning, becoming the first player to reach the three-figure-mark in Test cricket at the Perth Stadium, and celebrated in a unique manner as the swelling crowd showered him with applause.
After he confidently smacked Australia speedster Mitchell Starc down the ground to reach to his hundred, Kohli removed his helmet, put it on the ground, pointed to his bat then mimicked talking with his glove.
But Kohli’s gritty knock ended on 123 in a controversial fashion.
The right-hander edged paceman Pat Cummins to Peter Handscomb at second slip, who just managed to scoop his fingers under the ball to hold onto a low catch.
Handscomb was adamant he caught the ball, but Kohli was equally certain the ball did not carry, shaking his hand at the umpire when the catch was taken.
The on-field umpires referred it to the third umpire with a soft signal of ‘out’, meaning only a conclusive evidence could overturn the decision.
Even TV replays couldn’t show that Handscomb had held a clean catch. The third umpire went with the on-field umpire’s decision of ‘out’, leaving the Indian skipper disappointed.
Kohli walked off the ground clearly unhappy and failed to acknowledge the ovation he received for his superb ton.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Well played @imVkohli. One of your finest innings. This knock will be remembered for a long time. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/Gj1dSN4k4p
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 16, 2018
Absolute masterpiece from kohli at Perth .. @bcci @imVkohli .. two of my greatest I have seen play .. Tendulkar and kohli (not seen bradman or sobers play live )…
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) December 16, 2018
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @imVkohli 💯 class above
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 16, 2018
The Master! @imVkohli #25TestCenturies
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 16, 2018
Has hit 25 so far in Tests and this has been one of the more special one from Virat Kohli. Not many adjectives can do justice to the skill, to the hunger and courage. #AusVInd
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 16, 2018
What’s the difference between Virat of today and Virat of 4 years back. It’s the mind. His mind is a lot greater today than it was 4 years back. He is achieving even greater heights in tough conditions because he has been able to put mind over matter.👏👏👏🙏🙏#ViratKohli
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 16, 2018
For me, Virat Kohli was Not Out.
For you?#AUSvIND King Kohli— Sushant Sinha (@SushantBSinha) December 16, 2018
The bottom line is that technology in such matters is inconclusive and will always be inconclusive because we are seeing a 3 dimensional event in 2 dimensions. And so the verdict tend to go with the on-field umpire.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 16, 2018
Any complaints regarding the Kohli dismissal should be focussed on the soft signal rule—there’s no way the on-field umpire has a better view than the TV umpire—not the decision itself. It was not clear either way. A controversial decision; but not a terrible one. #AUSvIND
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) December 16, 2018
Was Kohli caught by Handscomb?
Katich: "To me it looked like he had his fingers wrapped underneath the ball. They seemed really confident from the moment. The soft signal from all reports was out."
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) December 16, 2018
Peter Handscomb's catch of Virat Kohli is akin to Michael Clarke's catch of Sourav Ganguly off Brett Lee in the Sydney Test in January 2008.#AusvInd#AusvsInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 16, 2018
Regardless of what you think of that decision, @patcummins30 richly deserved @imVkohli wicket! Australia made a point of that matchup! #AusvInd
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 16, 2018
.@cricketaakash has his take on the catch which dismissed Virat Kohli…#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ZDm3Z9aRai
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 16, 2018
Kohli was out or not out ? What do u say guys ??
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/MitchJohnson398/status/1074178214413488128
Takes great catches to win Test matches … And the #Kohli catch was a beauty … Bounced off his finger into the hand … OUT … Good decision … #AUSvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 16, 2018
