'Heart Broken' - Fans express grief as Virat Kohli fails to take India home on Day 5 of WTC final

The World Test Championship final 2023 continued its breathtaking action on Day 5 as India required 280 runs to win on the final day having seven wickets in hand with Virat Kohli (44) and Ajinkya Rahane (20) at the crease. India’s hopes were pinned on the pair to take them home on Day 5. However, much to the dismay of Indian fans, Scott Boland dismissed Kohli in the first hour of play, getting him caught at second slip.

After beating, the outside edge of the star batter on the first ball of the over, Boland bowled a sucker ball inviting the drive and the batter couldn’t resist himself. Kohli threw his bat at it and the edge went to Steve Smith at second slip who completed a spectacular catch diving to his right.

As a result, the 34-year-old was dismissed for 49 (78) crushing India’s hopes of victory. Notably, it was the second time in the game that Smith caught Kohli as he earlier took his catch leaping in the air in the first innings.

The former India captain once again failed to fire with the bat in the second consecutive WTC final. Kohli had registered scores of 44 and 13 in the WTC Final 2021 and once again failed to leave a major impact on the big stage.

Kohli averaging in 20's in Tests since 2020 

The star batter has been averaging 29 since 2020 and was going through a long century drought of over three years in the longest format of the game. He ended the drought earlier this year with his knock of 186 against Australia during the fourth Test of the Test series between India and Australia in February-March.

Following his hundred and an impressive run in the IPL 2023 where he scored over 600 runs, fans were expecting a big knock from Kohli. However, the star batter once again had a below-par outing with the bat and couldn’t leave a major impact on the final.

Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions to Kohli’s dismissal.

Here are some of the Tweets:

#ViratKohli #INDvsAUS #Rahane #ICCWorldTestChampionship 🖐🏻🥲 pic.twitter.com/FpYX99NvYB

— Abhishek Shukla/अभिषेक शुक्ला (@Abhishekshuka_9) June 11, 2023

I know the Result..But him🥺😞#ViratKohli #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/pIc7VMecSB

— Kibbs #Leo (@kohlified_boy) June 11, 2023

resumed my work after Virat Kohli Wicket.#INDvsAUS #ViratKohl #ViratKohli𓃵 #anushkasharma #Jadeja #AjinkyaRahane #RohitSharma #Chokli #Anushka #starc pic.twitter.com/4KW7lp09Wj

— Karan Mahi (@KaranMa05665933) June 11, 2023

Well played, Virat Kohli.

He scored 49 runs from 77 balls against Australia in WTC Final. A superb knock from Virat Kohli in final. pic.twitter.com/XQjazZKP3q

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) June 11, 2023

#ViratKohli bro, you were leaving the outside off stumps ball so well, then why the hell u chased that one 😭💔#WTCFinals#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/b0aO319pdX

— Marco Polo (@mrcopolo_off) June 11, 2023

Mental peace pane ke liye cricket dekh raha tha

Cricket dekh kar or depression Ho Gaya#INDvAUS#WTCFinal2023 pic.twitter.com/uBebNutKN8

— Stranger 🇮🇳 (@Strangerwork) June 8, 2023

And the wait for ICC TROPHY🏆continues....💔💔 #indvsauswtcfinal #ViratKohli #Rahane #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/DvLRmEpbeX

— shaik gouse mohidin (@gouse1204) June 11, 2023

Dear @BCCI pic.twitter.com/ownd9PUuOc

— Virat Kohli (@7BallxnDor) June 11, 2023

Broken heart 💔#AjinkyaRahane #ViratKohli #WTCFinal2023 pic.twitter.com/Lzin4AWWd5

— Cdt. Ashish Yadav 🐦 (@AsheeshDilwale) June 11, 2023

1. Rohit Sharma - 43 (60)
2.Cheteshwar Pujara - 27 (47)
3. Virat Kohli - 49 (78)
4. Ajinkya Rahane - 46 (108)

All looked in fine form in but gave away their wicket poor shot selection #INDvsAUS #IndianCricketTeam #WTCFinal2023 pic.twitter.com/09vpmk5bOg

— MAHESH PATEL (@MAHESHTULA333) June 11, 2023