The Australian cricket team has delivered a stark message to India’s batting powerhouse, Virat Kohli, ahead of the crucial second One-Day International at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
Adelaide holds special significance for Kohli, often referred to as his ‘happy hunting ground.’ Here, the former captain has smashed five centuries across all formats. Notably, in ODIs at this venue, he boasts an astonishing average of 204.00, having never been dismissed in this particular format.
However, as Kohli prepares for what might be his final ODI appearance in Adelaide, Australia’s intentions are clear: they will maintain the aggressive tactics that proved successful in the previous match. Australian batter Matt Short confirmed that the fast bowlers are committed to executing their strategy of targeting the channel wide of off-stump against Kohli.
This approach yielded a duck for Kohli in the first ODI in Perth, a dismissal that aligns with a recent trend seen against the 36-year-old. Short elaborated on the team’s plan during a press conference in Adelaide: “I’m not privy to all the fast-bowling meetings, but that seems to be the method he’s been dismissed by lately. Experienced bowlers like Josh Hazlewood, affectionately known as ‘Hoff,’ and Mitchell Starc have extensive experience bowling against him, and they certainly know their craft. In Perth, they skillfully utilized the natural swing and seam conditions on the wicket, and I anticipate they will replicate that approach.”
Here’s a look at Virat Kohli’s impressive record at Adelaide:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 5 | 527 | 52.70 | 3 | 141 |
| ODI | 4 | 244 | 61.00 | 2 | 107 |
| T20I | 3 | 204 | 204.00 | 0 | 90* |
Despite the looming challenge, Short expressed his excitement about playing alongside such a cricketing legend. “It’s truly incredible to share the field with someone of his caliber,” Short remarked. “I’m hopeful I’ll get the chance to converse with him at some point during the series.” He added, “It’s going to be a memorable way for him to conclude his innings here, especially with the tremendous support from fans across Australia. The roar of the crowd when Kohli walks in after someone like Rohit Sharma or Shubman Gill gets out, it’s an incredible, almost intimidating, experience for the departing batter.”