Virat Kohli Faces Fans' Criticism As 'Chokli' Trends On Social Media During India Vs Australia Test

The opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth was a day filled with excitement and surprises. India's bowlers shone brightly, while Virat Kohli's struggles both with the bat and in the field caught everyone's attention.

India's batting lineup faced challenges, managing only 150 runs. Nitish Reddy scored 41, and Rishabh Pant added 37, offering some resistance. Josh Hazlewood led Australia's attack with four wickets, putting India on the back foot.

Kohli's performance was underwhelming, scoring just five runs in the first innings. Attempting to counter Australian bowlers by batting outside the crease, he seemed off-balance. Facing Josh Hazlewood, he misjudged a short ball and edged it to Usman Khawaja after just 12 balls.

Adding to his woes, Kohli dropped a simple catch off Marnus Labuschagne at second slip from Jasprit Bumrah's delivery. Labuschagne hadn't scored yet, giving Australia an unexpected advantage. Despite Kohli's honesty about not catching cleanly earning praise, fans were still critical.

Fans expressed their disappointment online, coining the nickname 'Chokli' for Kohli on X (formerly Twitter). One fan stated, "No one other than Virat chokli should be blamed for this collapse. He was the most senior batsman in the team, but he threw his wicket."

The criticism continued with another tweet: "-Can't bat -Can't ball -Can't field -Can't captain -Plays for opponent. Chokli dropped an easy catch ????????????. Is Chokli the worst ever player to play cricket?"

Bowlers Keep India Competitive

Despite India's low score, their bowlers kept them competitive. Jasprit Bumrah led with four wickets, including Steve Smith's rare golden duck. Mohammed Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana also contributed crucial breakthroughs.

By the end of Day 1, India had reduced Australia to 67/7. Bumrah's fiery spell dismantled Australia's batting order, keeping India in control despite their modest lead of 83 runs.

A particularly harsh comment read: "Chokli omfg, dropped a dolly ????????????. What a liability he is. Never forget that his fans trolled Dhoni for not retiring early."

The match remains finely balanced as both teams look to gain an upper hand in this crucial Test series opener.