Virat Kohli’s fierce persona and relentless intensity were on full display on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) between Australia and India. His passionate and animated presence added an electrifying energy to the contest, as he engaged with both teammates and opponents alike. The stump microphone captured Kohli’s vocal instructions and heated exchanges, contributing to the highly charged atmosphere of the game. His ability to maintain focus, even in the face of adversity, ensured that India remained competitive throughout.
The ‘jelly dance’ celebration of Virat Kohli after Travis Head’s dismissal
One of the most memorable moments of the day came when Kohli showcased his fun side, celebrating the dismissal of Travis Head with an animated “jelly dance,” The incident occurred during the 67th over of Australia’s innings, after Jasprit Bumrah, brought back into the attack by Rohit Sharma, dismissed Head for a duck. Kohli, visibly ecstatic, swung his arms in an exaggerated manner, dancing with joy before meeting his teammates, who were also grinning from ear to ear. The celebration was a testament to Kohli’s ability to embrace both intensity and light-heartedness, providing a glimpse of his dynamic persona.
Head’s dismissal was crucial for India, especially given his outstanding form throughout the series, where he scored 409 runs in the first three Tests. Had Head continued, he could have further hurt India’s chances of making a comeback. Bumrah’s breakthrough, therefore, became a game-changing moment, offering the visitors some hope as they looked to wrest control of the contest.
Here’s the video:
Look how Virat Kohli celebrates Travis Head’s wicket 🤣🤣🤣#INDvsAUS #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/UEhQqOA4uy
— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) December 26, 2024
Kohli’s celebration after Head’s wicket 🤣❤️#KingKohli 👑🥰 pic.twitter.com/qZRw7NDKkr
— Noman Chaudhary (@Noman__Chaudhry) December 26, 2024
Also READ: AUS vs IND: Here’s the penalty Virat Kohli received from ICC for his on-field clash with Sam Konstas
Australia’s strong start and India’s late comeback
Australia’s batting lineup enjoyed a solid start after winning the toss and opting to bat. Fifties from Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne debutant Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja gave the hosts a commanding position early on. Each of these top-order batters played crucial roles, capitalizing on favorable conditions and exploiting the weaknesses of the Indian bowlers. The Australians were able to build momentum, setting a formidable total and putting India under significant pressure
Despite Australia’s solid start, India fought back with resilience towards the latter stages of the day. The efforts of Labuschagne, Smith and others set a challenging total of 311/6 at the close of play. However, India made significant inroads in the latter part of the day, dismissing some key Australian batters, including Labuschagne, to claw back into the contest. The Indian bowlers, led by Bumrah and supported by spinners like Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, managed to slow down Australia’s progress and disrupt their momentum.
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