It took only eight overs for the decisive Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the SCG for the fuse to be lit, as Australia believed they had taken a miraculous catch that would have left the visitors reeling at 3-17.
Having dismissed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on the delivery before, cult hero Scott Boland enticed Kohli into clipping to the cordon after the veteran walked to the wicket to jeering from the Sydney crowd.
At second slip, Steve Smith got his fingers under the ball before scooping Kohli's outside edge up with one hand into the air which Marnus Labuschagne grabbed on to.
The catch sent the SCG crowd into raptures, with the Australians running the length of the wicket in their celebrations.
Virat Kohli (r) and Shubman Gill wait anxiously for third umpire Joel Wilson's verdict. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
But Kohli stood his ground as umpires Sharfuddoula Saikat and Michael Gough sent the catch upstairs for review by third umpire Joel Wilson.
After extensive examination, Wilson determined the ball had touched the grass as Smith attempted to control it, constituting a not out call.
Australian captain Pat Cummins sought clarification from the on-field umpires as Kohli fought on for the tourists, who had won the toss and opted to bat.
The decision was the subject of immediate scrutiny from pundits.
"I think that's given out nearly every day of the week, to be honest," said former Test player Mark Waugh in commentary for Fox Cricket.
Ex-India coach Ravi Shastri was less convinced.
"I think the right decision in the end because there was an element of doubt," he said.
"When you see it that many times on the replay and you're not convinced, it invariably goes in favour of the batsman.
"If there is a split of the fingers, the chances of the ball touching the grass is much more."
On Channel Seven, former ICC Umpire of the Year Simon Taufel said he "could probably build a case for either decision to be given".
"(Wilson) believes he's seen the ball on the ground and called it way he's seen it," he said.
"Normally the ICC protocol on fair catches is if you see the fingers underneath the ball, that's good to maintain a fair catch.Â
"But here's the problem: the on-field umpires no longer have the soft signal and make the decision, it's purely in the hands of the television umpire now."
Former Indian captain Kohli would have breathed a sigh of relief after the decision, having averaged only 12.4 across five innings since an unbeaten century in the series opener.
Kohli had been the subject of scrutiny during the MCG Test for making shoulder contact with debutant Sam Konstas between overs during the opener's first stay at the crease.
He also raised eyebrows for confronting a journalist earlier in the series to warn against filming his family members.
