Virat Kohli’s return to ODI cricket hasn’t gone as planned. The star Indian batter registered his second consecutive duck in the ongoing India vs Australia ODI series, the first time it has happened in his 17-year-long ODI career.
A Rare Low for Kohli (1st ODI)
This was Kohli’s 40th duck in international cricket and his second in Australia in ODIs. In his 304-match ODI career, this is the first instance where he has been dismissed for two consecutive ducks in 50-over cricket. After a long break since the Champions Trophy final, fans were eager to see Kohli back in form, but the wait continues.
Dismissal in the Second ODI
In the second ODI at Adelaide, Kohli walked in after captain Shubman Gill’s dismissal in the seventh over. Facing Australia’s young pacer Xavier Bartlett, Kohli lasted just four balls before being trapped LBW.
The delivery nipped back sharply, and Kohli’s attempted flick missed the line completely. This came just days after his eight-ball duck in Perth, making it two back-to-back ducks for one of the greatest ODI batters ever.
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Kohli’s Record at Adelaide
Before this game, Kohli enjoyed an excellent record at the Adelaide Oval, 244 runs in four innings at an average of 61.00, including two memorable centuries. One of those centuries came in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup against Pakistan, where he became the first Indian to score a World Cup ton against the arch-rivals.
A Milestone Waiting to Happen
Kohli currently holds 51 ODI centuries, the same as Sachin Tendulkar’s 51 in Tests. One more hundred would make him the outright record holder for the most centuries in a single format, a feat fans have been eagerly waiting to witness.
Crowd Reaction
Despite his rare failure, the Adelaide crowd showed their love and respect for the Indian legend. As Kohli walked back to the pavilion, fans gave him a warm round of applause, and he acknowledged them with a wave, a sight that showed how deeply cricket followers admire him, even on tough days.
Written By:- Manjunath S