Virat Kohli is one of India’s all-time great batters. He has been part of the national squad for well over a decade and specialises now in the one-day format (ODIs) after stepping away from T20s and Tests.
In the ongoing three-match ODI series between India national cricket team and Australia national cricket team (19 Oct, 23 Oct & 25 Oct 2025), Virat Kohli’s return to international cricket has been much anticipated.
His record against Australia in ODIs is impressive — thousands of runs, several centuries and a strong average. So when there was talk of him possibly retiring after two low scores in a row, it caught many people’s attention.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has dismissed rumours that Virat Kohli might retire from international cricket after getting out for two consecutive ducks against Australia. He explained that Kohli, who has been consistently scoring across formats for nearly 17 years, is far from finished and still has plenty of cricket left in him.
Sunil Gavaskar emphasised that Virat Kohli’s gesture of raising his gloves after being dismissed in Adelaide was simply a thank-you to the crowd for their standing ovation, not a hint at retirement.
He reminded fans that with over 14,000 international runs and dozens of centuries in both ODIs and Tests, Virat Kohli has earned the right to have an occasional failure. Sunil Gavaskar added that it’s natural for expectations to be high when Kohli plays at Adelaide, one of his favourite grounds in Australia, but two low scores shouldn’t be overanalysed. He also expressed hope that Virat Kohli could bounce back with a big innings in the upcoming match in Sydney.
After an eight-ball duck in the series opener at Perth, Kohli walked in to bat at Adelaide under immense pressure and expectation, given his exceptional past performances there. He began carefully, leaving the first few deliveries outside off stump, but a sharp inswinger soon trapped him lbw after just four balls.
As he began his walk back to the pavilion, the Adelaide crowd stood and applauded him, a mark of respect for his contribution to the game. Virat Kohli raised his gloves in response, acknowledging the fans’ gesture. However, that simple moment of appreciation quickly fueled widespread online speculation about his possible retirement.
In reality, as Sunil Gavaskar explained, Virat Kohli’s brief slump is just part of the game. For a player who has carried India’s batting for nearly two decades, two early dismissals don’t define his future.
Fans and experts alike are now looking ahead to the final ODI in Sydney, where Kohli will have another chance to remind everyone why he remains one of the modern greats of world cricket.
