Cummins emerges as Kohli nemesis

Virat Kohli, the superstar who dominated discussions leading up to the first Test, has been dismissed for just three at the Adelaide Oval.

Usman Khawaja

Australia's Usman Khawaja (r) celebrates his spectacular catch to dismiss India captain Virat Kohli. (AAP)

In just four balls, Australian paceman Pat Cummins has become Virat Kohli's nemesis.

Cummins has twice in four deliveries in Test cricket dethroned the Indian king.

In the first Test in Adelaide on Thursday, Cummins dismissed Kohli with his third ball of the innings, and third to the Indian captain.

In Ranchi in March last year, the Australian quick claimed Kohli's scalp with the only ball he bowled at the Indian hero.

Both times, Kohli has fallen cheaply - just three runs in Adelaide, only six in Ranchi.

Kohli on Thursday fell to a barely believable catch by Usman Khawaja at gully.

The Indian skipper played a loose shot, driving away from his body to a fullish Cummins delivery.

The ball caught the edge of Kohli's bat and flew to the left of Khawaja who, diving at full-stretch, completed a stunning one-handed catch.

"Literally: nick, react, catch," Khawaja said.

"You do it in training all the time, some stick and some don't.

"You don't take too many catches like that so it was a lot of fun, especially being Virat, obviously one of their key men."

As Australian players mobbed Khawaja, a man not renowned for his fielding, Kohli stood at the batting crease in disbelief at the brilliant catch.

After a prolonged pause, Kohli turned and headed to the dressing room after a rare failure in Adelaide.

In the last Test he played in Adelaide in December 2014, Kohli posted twin tons - 115 and 141.

And in the January 2012 Test in Adelaide, Kohli scored 116 and 22.

Khawaja, who pre-match detailed a fitness regime in which he had lost 10kg in weight, took the field on Thursday just two days after his brother was arrested following a counter-terrorism investigation.

Arsalan Tariq Khawaja was arrested in Sydney on Tuesday and charged with attempting to pervert justice and forgery.

He was granted bail amid accusations he framed a colleague with a fake terror hit-list targeting senior politicians.

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc praised Usman Khawaja's ability to retain his focus on the Test match in the wake of his brother's arrest.

"He is someone who keeps his cards close to his chest," Starc said.

"He has done a great job preparing for this Test match. I'm sure he will do a great job for the next four days as well.

"It was a great catch and hopefully he's going to have a great couple of days with the bat as well."


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Source: AAP


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