Virat Kohli stunned by rare wicket against Cricket Australia XI
India were not very impressive against the Cricket Australia XI batting lineup in their tour warm-up match, so much so that they threw Virat Kohli the ball. And when he got a wicket, even he was stunned.
The visitors were out in the field for 151 overs, and allowed the CA XI to put up a 186-first innings lead, dismissing them for 544.
Harry Nielsen did much of the damage scoring 100 off 169, and surprisingly it was Kohli who managed to get him out.
A half-tracker from the Indian star was smashed up in the air over mid-on and made for an easy catch for Umesh Yadav.
Kohli was elated, but also appeared rather shocked at his achievement. He then sarcastically celebrated the wicket with his teammates.
Kohli has played eight Tests in Australia, scored almost 1000 runs and produced three centuries in Adelaide, but is yet to triumph in a Test series Down Under.
As incredible as the captain's run-scoring feats were in 2014/15, his team failed to capture 20 wickets in any of the four Tests.
Steve Waugh famously described winning a Test series in India as the "final frontier" but the same phrase can be used to describe the challenge confronting Kohli's side.
The contest that starts in Adelaide on Thursday is India's 12th attempt to win a Test series in Australia.
The closest they have come is drawn series in 1980/81, 1985/86 and 2003/04.
Winning games, let alone series, has proven hard enough. Their record in Australia, which starts with a crushing series loss to Don Bradman's side in 1948, is five wins from 44 Tests.
- with AAP
