Indian captain Virat Kohli faced another setback in his recent batting performances during the second ODI against Australia in Adelaide on October 23. Kohli was dismissed for a duck for the second consecutive time in the series, this time falling to Xavier Bartlett. Despite briefly contemplating a review, Kohli sought advice from teammate Rohit Sharma, who correctly advised him to walk off as the ball had hit the stumps. This marked the first instance in Kohli’s ODI career where he suffered back-to-back ducks, a rare occurrence for the cricket superstar.
The disappointing moment raised questions about Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future in international cricket, with retirement speculations resurfacing on social media. Kohli’s struggles in Adelaide mirrored his start in Perth, where he was undone by a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc in the series opener.
Adelaide Oval has historically been a venue where Kohli has excelled, with memorable performances that showcased his talent. However, in what could potentially be his final appearance at the iconic venue, Kohli’s innings lasted only four balls. Following Kohli’s early exit, Rohit Sharma played a pivotal role in stabilizing India’s innings with a composed 73 off 97 balls, forming a crucial partnership with Shreyas Iyer. Rohit’s performance, an improvement from his previous outing, helped ease the pressure on India after the quick dismissals of captain Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli.