Indian captain Virat Kohli took centre stage once again even as the rest of the batting order faltered. The skipper stood tall and took on the Australian bowling attack on a Perth pitch which was spicy and offered significant assistance to the bowlers.
With a drive towards mid-off, Kohli notched up his 25th Test century and broke into a unique celebration, which in many ways was a message to the critics who questioned Kohli's captaincy on day 2.
India looked to be on course to match Australia's first innings score. Tim Paine introduced Pat Cummins into the attack. The fast bowler has had a perfect record against Kohli and he got the skipper once again. The ball was pitched up and it was wide, Kohli went after it and nicked it behind to Peter Handscomb at second slip.
The fielder dived across and claimed the catch, but Kohli stood his ground even as the umpires referred it to the third umpire. On subsequent replays, the ball appeared to have touched the ground, but since the soft signal was out, the third umpire adjudged the skipper dismissed.
However, this decision drew immense outrage on social media and many people even claimed that this decision could well cost India the game. Australia ended the day with their noses in front, since India conceded a lead of 43.
Doesn't get much closer than that! Kohli has to go... #CloseMatters #AUSvIND | @GilletteAU pic.twitter.com/v6luCLWez1
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 16, 2018
Twitter was far from impressed:
Whichever way U look at..to err is human..& whoever is handling ‘technology’...humans of course.! And let’s not discount basic human urge to ‘cheat’ whenever & wherever possible..I’d rather cherish @imVkohli at his imperial best than brood over doubting decisions..!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) December 16, 2018
Clearly unfair decision.....shadows of both ball and fingers merging.....on land....how it's a clean decision.....very unfair
— Indian By heart (@zeedsigmc) 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
#Kohli’s catch wasn’t clean. He was clearly not out. The entire system of soft signal is a lottery. Should be discarded asap. @ICC @BCCI
— Kunal Singh (@d_extrovert) December 16, 2018