Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli hit the headlines for a wrong reason after he dropped a sitter at slip during the Test opener against Australia at Optus Stadium in Perth.

Coming in at one down, Marnus Labuschagne didn't look comfortable at all from the get-go as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj kept him in check with subtle bowling variations of line and length.

While the Australian was finding ways to get off the mark, he attempted a tentative poke, which led to a healthy edge that flew to the slip cordon.

Virat Kohli drops a regulation catch at slip cordon

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli who was positioned perfectly at first slip, had an excellent opportunity to dismiss the dangerous Australian batter.

Nevertheless, that wasn't meant to be the case as Marnus Labuschagne was gifted with a lifeline on nought. The right-hander who averages just over 100 at this venue, laced with three centuries and a fifty, breathed a sigh of relief after Virat Kohli put down a sitter.

The catch seemed straightforward in the first place as Kohli didn’t need to move much at all. In fact, the ball was well within his reach but as it came towards him, he crouched to pouch it with his hands low to the right.

As Kohli clutched it close to his body, it seemed secure for a brief moment but as he attempted to rise in celebration, the ball slipped from his grasp before it hit the turf.

What should have been a routine dismissal turned into a moment of disbelief as Kohli took the catch before it popped out of his right hand. The slip cordon initially erupted in celebration, thinking Kohli had taken the catch in his safe pair of hands.

KL Rahul, who was standing close to Kohli was certain that Kohli took the catch. Jasprit Bumrah was also elated but to everyone's dismay, Kohli quickly gestured that the ball had slipped from his grasp.

Talking about the game, India were bowled out for 150 in the first innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 41 on his Test debut. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers as he accounted for 4 dismissals for the hosts.