Smith vehemently disputes 3rd umpire's call as Virat Kohli survives first-ball duck: 'There's no denying it at all'

Scott Boland delivered a short of a good length ball, pitching it just outside the off stump. As Virat Kohli tried to play a shot, he ended up getting a thick outside edge, sending the ball flying towards second slip. With quick reflexes, Steve Smith lunged forward in an attempt to take the catch.

Smith’s attempt to claim the catch saw the ball deflect towards Marnus Labuschagne at fourth slip, who managed to complete the catch. The Australian team erupted in celebration, and Smith seemed convinced he had scooped the ball cleanly, immediately signalling to the umpire for a review.

However, after a tense series of replays, the TV umpire ruled the decision in Kohli’s favor. Despite Smith’s confident assertion that he had grabbed the ball cleanly, the third umpire concluded that the ball had touched the ground before being deflected towards Labuschagne. Kohli, who had narrowly avoided a golden duck, showed visible relief, breaking into a wry smile as he walked back to his crease.

However, even as the session ended with India losing three wickets for 57, Smith was adamant that the catch was cleanly taken. During a chat with cricket.com.au, Smith said, “100%. No denying it whatsoever,” when asked if he believed Kohli was out.

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It was a rare moment of fortune for India, who had already lost two early wickets, and the reprieve seemed to ignite some hope in the team’s camp. However, Kohli's innings didn't last long as the batter failed to convert the chance; he was dismissed early in the second session, falling once again to the delivery outside the off-stump.

It was Boland, eventually, who picked his wicket, pitching the delivery wide outside the off-stump; Kohli, in an attempt to push at the ball, nicked the delivery for the slip fielder Beau Webster.

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