Virat Kohli’s recent return to international cricket has been challenging. In the second One-Day International against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, he was dismissed for a duck for the second consecutive time in his career – a first for the star batter.
Australian bowler Xavier Bartlett delivered a devastating spell, removing both Indian captain Shubman Gill for 9 and Kohli in the same over, inflicting early damage on the Indian batting lineup.
As Kohli made his way back to the pavilion, a captured image shows him lifting his gloves in a gesture that many interpreted as an appreciation for the large crowd that came to support the Indian team. However, this gesture has also fueled widespread speculation, with some wondering if it implied something more significant, perhaps even an indication about his retirement. The true meaning behind the gesture remains a topic of discussion.
This dismissal occurred during Kohli’s highly anticipated comeback to competitive cricket, playing alongside Rohit Sharma, who had recently retired from Test cricket.
Despite this recent setback, Kohli boasts an impressive history at Adelaide Oval in ODIs, having scored 244 runs in four innings at an average of 61.00, which includes two centuries. His highest score at this venue is 107.
One of his memorable Adelaide centuries was against Pakistan during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he became the first Indian to achieve a World Cup century against the arch-rivals.
Kohli is currently on the cusp of another remarkable record, sharing 51 ODI centuries with Sachin Tendulkar, who has 51 Test centuries. Achieving one more ODI ton would make Kohli the sole record holder for the most centuries in a single format with 52 ODI hundreds.
The match itself began with Australian captain Mitchell Marsh winning the toss and opting to bowl first. Australia entered this game leading the three-match series 1-0, having secured a seven-wicket victory in the opening match at Perth Stadium.