Kohli managed to negotiate just four balls from Boland before he edged behind to Steve Smith at second slip. The dismissal was similar to the way Boland had got Kohli out in the first innings of the game, in which he was caught by Beau Webster at third slip having been given a reprieve after he edged behind off Boland from his very first delivery.

It also marked the third time Boland had dismissed Kohli in his last four innings, carrying on from the MCG Test where he nicked behind for 34. He did not face a ball from Boland in the second innings of that match before he was dismissed by Mitchell Starc, again caught in the slips.

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Kohli's average against Boland is now 7.6 having faced him in seven innings across five Tests. It's his worst average against any bowler who has dismissed him at least twice in Test cricket.

All eight of Kohli's dismissals during the series have been caught off the outside edge, a pattern which has drawn murmurings over his future in the India Test side. After his second dismissal against Boland at the SCG, Kohli's frustration was obvious. He smashed his bat with his gloves and shouted at himself before walking off the pitch.

Having scored a century in the second innings of the opening Test of the series, Kohli's string of failures began in the Adelaide Test, the first of the series to feature Boland. While Kohli was dismissed for seven by Starc in the first innings, he fell to Boland in the second, nicked behind to Alex Carey. From there, he made three in his only innings in Brisbane before his low scores at the MCG and SCG.

– 20 overs
– 8 maidens
– 31 runs
– 4 wickets

Scott Boland was brilliant on day one at the SCG 👏

His bowling average in home Tests is now just 13.34 🤯#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/uOAagOM7J0

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 3, 2025

Boland walks the talk to dominate battle with Kohli

Speaking to Fox Cricket after day one in Sydney, Boland had confirmed his plans which have been so successful against Kohli. "He sort of feels like he leaves a lot and then he wants to play the ball once he gets in," said Boland. "So once he gets in, we just want to switch out lines a little bit to fifth stump and it's working at the moment."

After play on day two, Australia coach Andrew McDonald also commented on the incredible hold Boland seems to have on Kohli. "It's one thing to have a plan, but then to be able to execute that the way that we have to Virat to put him under immense pressure. And look, he's tried some things. He's walked out of his crease. He's tried different tactics as well. But clearly that relentless nature of, in particular, Scotty Boland in that matchup has been incredible difficult for him to come bat, but he's never and easy wicket."

With the series he's had in Australia, Kohli's overall Test average has now dropped to 46.85 and, barring his century in Perth, the highest score he's reached in his last 11 innings is 36. Depending on whether they reach the World Test Championship final, which would rely on Australia losing both of their matches against Sri Lanka and India winning the Sydney Test, India's next Test assignment will be five Tests against England later in the year.

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