Virat Kohli's Birthday Turns Sour With Another Flop Show

Virat Kohli, who turned 27 on Thursday, had a forgettable birthday as he fell cheaply in the first Test against South Africa in Mohali. The Indian skipper scored just one run after getting a leading edge off a Kagiso Rabada delivery. Dean Elgar took a low diving catch at short cover. (SCORECARD)

Kohli seemed to have got a birthday present when he won the toss on a pitch that looked dry and full of cracks. He promptly chose to bat but the script did not fold India's way. Shikhar Dhawan fell for zero and then Kohli's dismissal left India reeling. (Forty Grey Hairs, but is Virat Kohli a Mature Leader?)

Rabada, who made his Test debut after Morne Morkel failed a fitness test, bowled a fuller length ball and Kohli shaped for an on-side push. The ball took the leading edge and flew to short cover. Kohli clearly misjudged the pace of the wicket. (Don't Compare Virat Kohli with MS Dhoni Right Now: Kapil Dev)

Kohli's expression after the dismissal said it all. Stunned, Kohli had to literally drag him out of pitch. He lasted only four balls. The young Indian captain was looking forward to the Mohali Test and was expected to fire on all cylinders.

"It will be an exciting and special day for me tomorrow when I take field in my first home game as captain. Secondly it's my birthday as well so it doubles up the excitement," the flamboyant Kohli had said on the eve of the Test match.

On Wednesday, Kohli said that India's "top five" had to score all the runs to enable the bowlers force a decision at Mohali. That was not to be.

Kohli's best in his last six Test innings has been a 78 against Sri Lanka in Colombo. He scored a century in the Chennai ODI against South Africa on October 22 and was expected to lead India's batting challenge in Mohali.