Virat Kohli, the heartbeat of Indian cricket, is known for his passion, precision and unmatched consistency. With over a decade of dominance, he has redefined modern batting through his hunger for runs and fierce competitiveness. Fans across the world look up to him not just for his records but for the intensity with which he approaches every innings. Yet, even legends face moments of unexpected silence and this week, Virat Kohli found himself in unfamiliar territory.
On Thursday, October 23, during the second ODI against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, Virat Kohli was dismissed without scoring. Coming in at number three, he faced just four deliveries before being trapped leg-before by Xavier Bartlett in the seventh over. This rare failure followed another duck from the first ODI in Perth on October 19, marking the first time in his illustrious career that Kohli has recorded back-to-back zeroes in one-day internationals.
The disappointment among fans was obvious, especially at Adelaide Oval, a ground that has seen Virat Kohli at his best. He had previously scored two memorable centuries there, one against Pakistan in 2015 and another against Australia in 2019. Thursday’s duck, however, added to an unusual statistic, it was his 18th duck in ODIs. Only two Indians, Sachin Tendulkar (20) and Javagal Srinath (19), have more in this format.
Globally, Virat Kohli’s numbers are still far from the top of the list. Former Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya leads with 34 ducks, followed by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi with 30.
For Virat Kohli, this brief slump is just a reminder that even cricket’s finest can falter. But if history is any guide, the next innings might just see him roar back stronger than ever.
