Virat Kohli Scores Duck in Adelaide, ODI Retirement Around the Corner?
Virat Kohli’s return to international cricket after eight months has not gone as planned. The Indian cricket star was dismissed for a duck in the second ODI against Australia at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, October 23, 2025. This marked a difficult moment in his career as he recorded back-to-back ducks for the first time in his ODI journey spanning 304 matches.
The dismissal at Adelaide came just four balls into his innings when Xavier Bartlett trapped him LBW with a sharp delivery that came back into the pads. The umpire raised his finger without hesitation, and ball tracking showed the ball would have hit the middle stump. After a brief chat with Rohit Sharma at the non-striker’s end, Virat Kohli decided not to review the decision.
Back-to-Back Failures Raise Questions
Before the Adelaide match, Virat Kohli had already suffered a duck in the first ODI at Perth, where Mitchell Starc dismissed him after eight deliveries. The Perth dismissal came when he chased a wide delivery outside the off-stump, falling into a familiar trap that has troubled him throughout his career. Now, with another duck at Adelaide, the pressure on the 36-year-old has grown even more.
This is the first time since his debut in 2008 that Virat Kohli has been out for ducks in consecutive ODI matches. For a player who has built a reputation as one of the finest batsmen in cricket history, these back-to-back failures have shocked fans and experts alike. His ODI record shows 14,181 runs with 51 centuries and an average of 57.65, making these ducks even more surprising.
Adelaide Oval: From Favorite Ground to Farewell Scene
Adelaide Oval has always been special for Virat Kohli. Across all formats, he has scored 975 runs at this venue with an average of 65, including five centuries. His highest score at Adelaide is 141, achieved during a Test match. In ODIs specifically, he had accumulated 244 runs in four innings at an average of 61 before this match.
One of his most memorable performances at Adelaide came during the 2015 World Cup when he scored 107 against Pakistan. That innings made him the first Indian batsman to score a World Cup century against Pakistan. The ground had been his hunting ground, a place where he consistently delivered match-winning performances.
However, on October 23, 2025, Adelaide Oval witnessed a different story. As Virat Kohli walked back to the pavilion after his duck, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. In response, he raised his gloves and waved to acknowledge the fans. This simple gesture has led many to believe it was his final goodbye to the venue.
The Gesture That Started Retirement Talk
The moment Virat Kohli raised his gloves while walking off has become the center of retirement discussions on social media. Cricket fans and experts are trying to read between the lines, wondering if this was a subtle hint about his future plans. Some believe it was his way of saying farewell to Adelaide, knowing he may never play at this ground again.
THIS PICTURE OF VIRAT KOHLI SAYS MANY THINGS. 😥💔 pic.twitter.com/3HBUq1pN4O
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) October 23, 2025
The timing of this gesture has added weight to the speculation. Virat Kohli now only plays ODI cricket after retiring from T20Is in June 2024 following India’s World Cup victory. He also stepped away from Test cricket in May 2025 after a poor showing during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. With ODIs being his last remaining format, every performance is being watched closely.
Virat Kohli’s journey through different formats has seen multiple transitions in recent years. After India won the T20 World Cup in 2024 by defeating South Africa in Barbados, he announced his retirement from T20 internationals. In that final, he scored 76 runs off 59 balls and won the Player of the Match award. Shortly after, both Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja also retired from T20Is.
The decision to quit T20Is was taken to give younger players time to develop and prepare for future tournaments. Virat Kohli explained that the new generation needed a two-year cycle to handle pressure and be ready for the next World Cup. He finished his T20I career with 125 matches and 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69.
His Test retirement came in May 2025, just before India’s tour of England. The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia turned out to be his final Test series, where he struggled for form and scored only 190 runs in nine innings. His last Test was at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2025. In his 123 Test matches, he scored 9,230 runs with 30 centuries at an average of 46.85.
Champions Trophy Success and Return to ODIs
Before this Australia series, Virat Kohli last played international cricket during the Champions Trophy 2025 in March. He was in excellent form during that tournament, scoring 217 runs over four matches and playing a crucial role in India’s title win. His 84-run innings in the semi-final against Australia helped India reach the final.
Virat Kohli also scored an unbeaten century against Pakistan during the Champions Trophy, becoming India’s highest run-scorer in the tournament’s history. He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most 50-plus scores in ICC ODI tournaments. His performances earned him a spot in the ICC Team of the Tournament.
After the Champions Trophy triumph, Virat Kohli took an eight-month break from international cricket. During this period, he played in the Indian Premier League 2025 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he scored 443 runs in 10 matches at an average of 63.29. However, his return to ODIs in Australia has been far from smooth, with two consecutive ducks raising serious questions about his form.
Selector’s Stand on World Cup 2027
Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar has been asked repeatedly about the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma regarding the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, Agarkar has refused to commit either way, saying it would be “silly” to put players of their quality on trial in every match.
Agarkar pointed out that one player averages over 50 and the other averages close to 50, referring to their stellar ODI records. He explained that 2027 is still far away and the situation will be assessed as it unfolds. The selector emphasized that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are not on trial, but their performances will naturally be monitored.
Both senior players have not committed to being part of the 2027 World Cup squad. Agarkar mentioned that they remain active in ODIs at the moment and are part of the squad for the Australia series. However, the lack of match practice between ODI series and their age means every series they play becomes important.
What the Numbers Say
Virat Kohli’s ODI career has been nothing short of extraordinary. With 51 ODI centuries, he holds the record for most hundreds in the format. He is just one century away from breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 Test centuries, which would make him the sole record holder for most centuries in any single format.
Currently, he is fourth-highest ODI run-scorer with 14,181 runs. He stands just 53 runs behind Kumar Sangakkara, who has 14,234 runs, for the second position on the all-time list. If he retires now, he will finish short of the 15,000-run mark, which would have been another milestone in his career.
His ODI average of 57.65 is among the best in cricket history. In successful run chases, his average jumps to 89.5, showing his ability to handle pressure situations. He has scored 28 centuries while chasing targets, more than any other cricketer. These numbers highlight why his current form slump is being taken so seriously.
Final Thoughts on Retirement Speculation
Whether Virat Kohli retires from ODIs after this Australia series remains to be seen. The back-to-back ducks have certainly fueled speculation, and his gesture to the Adelaide crowd has only added to the mystery. However, he still has the Sydney ODI to play, and a good performance there could change the narrative completely.
At 36 years old, Virat Kohli is in the latter stages of his career. His body language and recent performances suggest he is struggling to find his rhythm after months away from international cricket. The lack of match practice between ODI series makes it harder for him to stay in top form.
The cricket world will be watching closely when Virat Kohli walks out to bat in Sydney. Will it be another disappointment, or will he produce one final magical innings to silence his critics? Only time will tell
