The stadium lights in Adelaide glowed bright but the mood among Indian cricket fans was anything but. As Virat Kohli walked back to the pavilion for a second consecutive duck, the air was thick with unease. For the first time in his glittering One Day International career, the 36 years old cricketer had fallen for back-to-back zeros and social media erupted with a wave of emotion, nostalgia and worry.
Virat Kohli’s return to international cricket for the three-match ODI series against Australia was supposed to be a celebratory moment but it turned bittersweet instead. With Australia sealing the series 2-0 against a Shubman Gill-led Indian side, the final match became less about victory and more about the man himself. Across X (formerly Twitter), hashtags like “One Last Time” began trending, as fans flooded the Internet with emotional tributes and farewell posts.
Many believed that they were witnessing the end of an era. One fan’s post summed up the collective sentiment, writing that this could be the “last time” they saw Virat Kohli play in India’s jersey. Videos and compilations celebrating his career spread like wildfire. Whether fact or fear, the idea of Virat Kohli’s farewell had taken deep root in the hearts of his followers.
At the Adelaide Oval, a ground where Virat Kohli has created some of his most memorable moments, the crowd stood in respect as he walked out to bat. The applause echoed through the stands, a heartfelt acknowledgment of his incredible record there. But the cheer turned into a stunned silence when he was trapped lbw by Xavier Bartlett after just four balls. As he raised his hand toward the crowd, the gesture was simple yet haunting, a thank you, perhaps, or maybe a quiet goodbye.
That single image of Virat Kohli walking off, hand raised, spread rapidly across social media. Fans dissected it frame by frame, wondering if their hero was hinting at retirement. Yet, as of now, there has been no official statement from Kohli or the Indian cricket board regarding his ODI future. The storm of speculation remains a creation of anxious fans unwilling to imagine an Indian lineup without their icon.
Statistically, Virat Kohli remains one of the greatest ODI players in history. With 14,181 runs from 304 matches at an astonishing average of over 57, he stands third on the all-time run-scorers list, behind only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. His 51 ODI centuries have carried India through countless tight contests and his leadership and consistency were key in India’s Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year.
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What makes the current situation even more emotional is that ODIs are now the only format where Virat Kohli remains active. His retirement from T20 Internationals came soon after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory against South Africa. Following that, he bid farewell to Test cricket in 2025, closing a chapter that defined his legacy as one of the most passionate and intense leaders of India.
When he ended his T20I career, Virat Kohli simply said that it was “the last T20 game” he would play for India, a short yet heartfelt confirmation that shocked fans. His farewell to Tests, shared in a reflective Instagram post, was even more personal. He wrote that playing in whites had been “a 14-year journey of learning, discipline and quiet moments that shaped him forever”. His words carried the tone of a man at peace with his decisions but deeply connected to his journey.
It is this pattern, the gradual stepping away from formats, that has made his fans nervous. With ODIs being the final frontier, every innings now feels heavier, every silence louder. For those who have followed him since his brash debut to his transformation into India’s most consistent match-winner, the thought of watching him walk away feels almost unreal.
Will Virat Kohli continue playing ODIs even after Australia series or will he choose to bid goodbye? What do you think?
