Virat Kohli’s struggles in the ongoing ODI series against Australia took a concerning turn at the Adelaide Oval on October 23, where he was dismissed for his second consecutive duck. As he walked back to the pavilion, Kohli acknowledged the standing ovation from the crowd with a wave, a poignant moment that sparked fresh debates about whether the end of his remarkable ODI career is drawing near.
For the first time ever, the 35-year-old Indian stalwart recorded back-to-back ducks in ODIs, a surprising statistic for a player who has long been one of the format’s most consistent run-scorers. Kohli boasts an impressive 14,181 ODI runs overall, including 1,327 runs scored in Australia at a solid strike rate of 88.34, with five centuries to his name Down Under. Many fans were quick to defend him, emphasizing that two low scores should not overshadow the incredible legacy he has built over the years.
Yet, on social media, opinions are divided. While some hold on to hope for a revival, others fear this might be the beginning of Kohli’s twilight in one-day internationals. One comment that caught attention came from a user named Neal Gardner, who referenced a famous football quote by former England defender Jamie Carragher: “Leave cricket before cricket leaves you.” Carragher originally used this phrase to describe a player’s decline, and Gardner hinted it might apply to Kohli’s recent slump as well.
Kohli’s dismissal in Adelaide followed a similar pattern to his failure in Perth. In both innings, he fell prey to deliveries outside the off-stump first chasing a wide ball from Mitchell Starc, and then being trapped by a seaming delivery that exposed his ongoing troubles on the off-side.
Despite Kohli’s struggles, there was some relief for Indian fans in the form of Rohit Sharma’s composed knock of 73 runs off 97 balls. After a disappointing start to the series with just 8 runs in the opener, Rohit’s steady partnership of 118 runs with Shreyas Iyer helped India recover from the early losses of Shubman Gill and Kohli.
As the series shifts to Sydney for the third ODI, the spotlight will be firmly on Kohli. This match could be a defining moment perhaps even his last in the ODI format as fans worldwide grapple with the hope of a comeback and the bittersweet possibility that they may be witnessing the closing chapter of one of India’s most illustrious ODI careers.
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