"Petition to bring back Ajinkya Rahane" - Fans slam Virat Kohli as he drops Steve Smith's catch at slip

Virat Kohli gave Steve Smith a second chance as he dropped a sitter at slip on Day 1 of the first India-Australia Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday, February 9.

The incident took place in the 16th over when Smith tried to drive one through the covers as a quick delivery by Axar Patel found the former Australian skipper's outside edge.

The ball went flying at Kohli at slip who put his right hand out. However, the ball didn't stick in his hand and Smith got lucky early in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Fans were unhappy with the former Indian skipper and slammed him for his poor fielding standards. A few urged the team management to bring Ajinkya Rahane back as he is a safe fielder, while others reckoned that the dropped opportunity could cost India the Test match.

Here are some of the reactions:

aadarshhere🇮🇳

@aadarshhere_

Virat Kohli start BGT with a catch drop !!

Virat Kohli start BGT with a catch drop !!

Shoronjeet Banerjee 🚩

@shoronjeet02

Kohli bhai catch drop. Abhi Smith 200 pelega

Petition to bring back Ajinkya Rahane

Just for his slip fielding??

#INDvsAUS #BorderGavaskarTrophy #ViratKohli

Kohli bhai catch drop. Abhi Smith 200 pelega

Petition to bring back Ajinkya Rahane

Just for his slip fielding??

#INDvsAUS #BorderGavaskarTrophy #ViratKohli

Rishabh Pant Stan

@Siddharth_ICT

Virat Kohli agar fielding nahi ho pata to chhor do match khelna. Koi smith ka catch kaise drop kar sakta hai yaar? Bangladesh me bhi isne 4 catch drop kiye the. Hadd hai iska bhi dramebaazi. twitter.com/AvengerReturns…

ANSHUMAN🚩

@AvengerReturns

Virat Kohli dropped the catch of Steve Smith

25

3

Virat Kohli dropped the catch of Steve Smith 😶😶

Virat Kohli agar fielding nahi ho pata to chhor do match khelna. Koi smith ka catch kaise drop kar sakta hai yaar? Bangladesh me bhi isne 4 catch drop kiye the. Hadd hai iska bhi dramebaazi. twitter.com/AvengerReturns…

Appendix of Cricket

@Who2Boycott

They say the great Steve Waugh had to be involved in a misfield at least once every game.
Same goes for Kohli. Our boy has to drop at least one catch every game. 🤦🏽‍♂️
#ViratKohli
#BGT2023
#INDvsAUS

Image: @DisneyPlus

2

They say the great Steve Waugh had to be involved in a misfield at least once every game.
Same goes for Kohli. Our boy has to drop at least one catch every game. 🤦🏽‍♂️
#ViratKohli
#BGT2023
#INDvsAUS

Image: @DisneyPlus https://t.co/nxSMUgfRaP

Pranay Madanpuriya

@Pranay_9329_

Virat Kohli drop catch of Steve Smith on 6
can it become a big threat
#AskStar #starsport #ViratKohli #SteveSmith @StarSportsIndia

Virat Kohli drop catch of Steve Smith on 6
can it become a big threat
#AskStar #starsport #ViratKohli #SteveSmith @StarSportsIndia

अमन हिन्दू ( चौबे जी) ❤️🙏

@Aman_SRT_24

Catch drop
Virat Kohli
Wo bhi smith ka

5

2

Catch drop
Virat Kohli
Wo bhi smith ka 😬

Health Stories

@imsrathore_03

@IrfanPathan Virat Kohli & catch drop saga continues !

@IrfanPathan Virat Kohli & catch drop saga continues !

Paidalchalnawale Engineersaabka Beta

@a4arnav_notB_V

Only time will tell, how much that drop catch would cost @imVkohli @stevesmith49 #BorderGavaskarTrophy #AUSvsIND

Only time will tell, how much that drop catch would cost @imVkohli @stevesmith49 #BorderGavaskarTrophy #AUSvsIND

Quickr Quacker

@QuickrOlx

That catch drop by virat kohli is proving to be too costly. It could have easily given us 2-3 more wickets.

That catch drop by virat kohli is proving to be too costly. It could have easily given us 2-3 more wickets.

Akash

@RahulKerra

Kohli drop catch might cost India this test match 🤦🏼‍♂️ #BorderGavaskarTrophy2023 #AUSvIND @imVkohli

Kohli drop catch might cost India this test match 🤦🏼‍♂️ #BorderGavaskarTrophy2023 #AUSvIND @imVkohli

Thakur _SSR45🇮🇳

@ImSSR45

Catch Drop @imVkohli

Catch Drop 💔 @imVkohli

Smith, who was batting at six when Kohli dropped the catch, was unbeaten on 19 at Lunch on Day 1.

The right-handed batter enjoys a stellar record against India, averaging 72 in 14 Tests, and will hope to keep it going.

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Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne steady Australia's ship after India strike early

The Indian pacers gave the hosts a brilliant start after Aussie skipper Pat Cummins decided to bat first after winning the toss in Nagpur.

Mohammed Siraj provided the first breakthrough, trapping Usman Khawaja lbw in the second over. Mohammed Shami dismissed David Warner in the next over, uprooting his stumps with a perfect in-swinger from round the wicket.

Smith and Marnus Labuschagne then did a fantastic job of reviving the innings from 2/2. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 74-run partnership for the third wicket as Australia went to Lunch at 76/2.

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