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Kohli’s Back-to-Back Ducks Spark Retirement Rumors

Adelaide, Australia – Virat Kohli, the Indian batting maestro, has achieved an unwanted first in his illustrious ODI career: consecutive ducks. After being dismissed for zero in the first ODI against Australia in Perth, Kohli repeated the feat in Adelaide, falling victim to Xavier Bartlett for a four-ball duck. This marks the first time Kohli has registered ducks in back-to-back ODI innings.

The Adelaide innings, in particular, has fueled speculation about Kohli’s future in the format. Following his dismissal, Kohli raised his hand, waving what some interpreted as a goodbye to the Adelaide crowd, many of whom believe it to be his last match at the venue. The gesture, coupled with a cryptic social media post from teammate Ravichandran Ashwin featuring the phrase “Just leave it” and a sportswear brand’s logo, has ignited rumors of potential retirement.

While Kohli, aged 36, received warm applause from the Australian fans, his wave back was perceived by many as a farewell, hinting at a possible departure from the ODI format.

Kohli had a successful ICC Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year, scoring 218 runs in five matches, including a century against Pakistan, but his recent form has dipped. Whether this is a temporary blip or a sign of things to come remains to be seen. A dip in performance may influence his participation in the 2027 Cricket World Cup.

Australia currently leads the series 1-0.

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